Stay, 'My Husband’s Wife' can’t entertain you today

The Bombay high court on Thursday ordered a stay on a small budget film My Husbands Wife, which was scheduled to be released in theatres on Friday, after admitting the appeal filed by one of the producers of the film, against the execution of the arbitration order allowing the release of the film passed earlier.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice S Godbole stayed the release of the film and adjourned the hearing of the plea till July 27. The petition was filed by one of the producers, Yogesh Varma.

According to the petition, Varma and his partner were under a joint venture with a share capital of 50% each. Last year, the film was titled but it was stalled for financial reasons. Accordingly, the applicant's partner tied up with a non-resident Indian Sayed Iqtidar Hussain who financed the film and completed it.

The petitioners alleged that last year, the two got an award in their favour, keeping the applicant Varma in the dark about the arbitration petition and thus the appeal was maintainable.

Accordingly, the court was told that the single judge order was not correct and the respondents should be disallowed from releasing the film.

Advocate Ashok Sarogi, appearing for the respondent, argued that the negatives have already been sold and the satellite version has already been screened. Thus the staying of the film would be improper. Further, the film was a dream of the respondent and if it is not screened, it will be a big loss to the producer and his future projects would be ruined.