Bengaluru Court Halts Release Of 'Boss' Movie In Actor Darshan's Suit Claiming Resemblance To Renukaswamy Murder Trial
A Bengaluru court in an interim order last month temporarily halted the release of Kannada film 'Boss' after actor Darshan moved a plea alleging that it draws inspiration from the ongoing Renukaswamy Murder case involving him. The movie was scheduled for release on April 14. The court, after granting the ad interim injunction in favour of Darshan on March 27, has now posted the matter to May...
A Bengaluru court in an interim order last month temporarily halted the release of Kannada film 'Boss' after actor Darshan moved a plea alleging that it draws inspiration from the ongoing Renukaswamy Murder case involving him.
The movie was scheduled for release on April 14. The court, after granting the ad interim injunction in favour of Darshan on March 27, has now posted the matter to May 2. Until this date, the movie release would be temporarily stalled by virtue of the court order.
Darshan and his wife had alleged that the audio and visuals of the movie's teaser were portrayed in such a manner that any normal viewer would associate the teaser to the plaintiffs' lives and the criminal case filed against Darshan.
The court Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru in its March 23 order said:
“The Defendants No.1 and 2, its producers, directors, their representatives, associates, servants, agents, employees, men or anyone claiming through or under them, from in any manner producing, filming, editing, promoting, marketing, releasing, distributing, exhibiting, telecasting, streaming, selling, licensing, leasing, or dealing with the movie titled 'BOSS'... based on or depicts the life of the Plaintiffs, the incidents alleged in the criminal case pending in C.C.No.1319/2024... or any elements directly or indirectly referring to or associating with the Plaintiffs' private life, family, reputation, sub-judice criminal proceedings or any other similar incidents, and from using the Plaintiffs' name, image, likeness, personality rights, or any promotional material (posters, teasers, trailers, press meets, interviews, etc.) in any medium including Theatres and/or Intermediary Streaming Platforms (OTT) whatsoever till the next date of hearing...".
The suit was filed by the actor and his wife, accusing the movie's makers–director and producer, of conveniently exploiting the events surrounding the Renukaswamy Murder, as evident from its teaser, promotional content and storyline.
'Boss' is a Kannada film in the crime thriller genre, starring Tanush Shivanna which has been directed by Lava V and produced under Siri Productions. Previously, the movie director, had denied any direct connection of his film to the Renuka swamy murder trial or Actor Darshan.
The defendants in the suit are the director and producer of the movie, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) and major social media platforms.
The film's teaser was released on YouTube on March 9, prior to its proposed theatrical release date. It has been alleged in the suit that the content available in the public platforms about the movie yet to be released indicates a direct resemblance with the murder case involving the actor, its investigation and the ongoing criminal trial (S.C. No. 1319/2024 before the Hon'ble LVI Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru.)
The specific allegations levelled by the actor includes the use of 'Boss' moniker for the protagonist in the film, though its uniquely associated to the plaintiff actor's persona. The plaint alleges that the plot of the movie revolves around the murder of a person and an associated audio of him pleading for his own life since he has a wife and children, states the plea. It alleges that the visuals from the film portrays the recovery of a dead body near a drainage pipeline, the subsequent arrest of a celebrity and ensuing police investigations. Further the plaintiffs say, that the movie itself comes with a tagline that its 'inspired by true events'.
In the plea, the actor has cited five previous court injunctions in his favour including against media content on 'confidential information contained in the charge sheet', despite which media trials and defamatory content against him still continue to be circulated in various platforms. The movie release would irreparably tarnish the actor's reputation and violate his right to privacy as well a free and fair trial, states the plaint.
In the Renukaswamy murder case, the Kannada actor is accused of being involved in the killing of his 33-year-old 'fan' over sending obscene messages to actress Pavithra Gowda. Darshan had allegedly abducted the deceased from Chitradurga and had him tortured for three days in a shed in Bengaluru in June 2024. The deceased later succumbed to the abuse, with his body thrown out in a drain as per the police report.
Darshan and 16 others have been charged for offences punishable under Section 120B, (Conspiracy), 201 (destruction of evidence), 364 (Abduction/kidnapping), 302 (murder) and Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code. They were granted bail by the high court in December 2024, which was cancelled by the Supreme Court in August 2025.
Adv. Pratham N appeared for the petitioner actor and his wife
Case Title: DARSHAN SRINIVAS v. SIRI PRODUCTIONS & Ors
Case No: O.S./0002151/2026