Even as the season for giving kicks in, the makers of Jolly LLB 2 are receiving some unwanted gifts. Footwear firm Bata has sent a legal notice to the makers of Akshay Kumar's legal comedy for defamation and disparagement of its brand.
The company has objected to the film's trailer referring to the supposedly cheap quality of its products. In a scene in the trailer, Annu Kapoor taunts Akshay Kumar's character for wearing Bata shoes and terrycot suits.
The company said in its notice that the scene is a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of its brand, especially because Akshay Kumar is brand ambassador of Relaxo footwear, a rival company.
The notice has demanded that the film's makers apologize in writing for defaming Bata and pull the trailer off screens immediately. The notice has been sent to executive producer Naren Kumar, Fox Star Studios India directors Deepak Jacob and Amit Shah, writer-director Subhash Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Annu Kapoor.
So far, director Subhash Kapoor has been the only one to confirm receipt of the notice. He said, "The producers will talk about it, I'm not authorized to."
Jolly LLB 2 is directed by Kapoor, and stars Kumar, Huma Qureshi and Annu Kapoor. The film is expected to arrive in theatres on 10 February 2017.