Fox Star agrees to credit lawyer Aparna Bhat in international screenings of Chhapaak

Fox Star Studios has acknowledged its error in not admitting lawyer Aparna Bhat's contribution to Meghna Gulzar's film Chhapaak (2020) and will include her credit in international screenings of the movie.

The studio accepted the directive of the Delhi high court and also affirmed a contribution of Rs50 lakh for the 'greater public good'.

Legal website BarAndBench.com reported that the Fox Star representative made the acknowledgement before a high court bench of justice Najma Wazri, which was hearing a contempt petition moved by Bhat.

Earlier this month, a Delhi civil court had sided with Bhat and directed the studio to credit the lawyer for her contribution to the film. Bhat had been acid-attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal's lawyer and was involved as a consultant on the Deepika Padukone-starrer, which drew from Laxmi Agarwal's story. 

BarAndBench.com reported that Rajiv Nayar, counsel for Fox Star Studios, conceded that the order was misconstrued to have been applicable only for domestic exhibitions. The production house will now ensure compliance of the order by including credits within 48 hours across all international screenings.

In addition, the company affirmed a contribution of Rs50 lakh for the 'greater public good'. Half of this amount will be contributed to the Asra fund for the benefit of burns victims while the other half will be donated to the plantation of 25,000 trees in Delhi's Central Ridge neighbourhood. 

In view of these submissions, Bhat decided not to press her contempt petition.