In a surprising twist just ahead of its OTT release, the blockbuster film “Animal,” featuring Ranbir Kapoor, finds itself entangled in a legal showdown. Cine1 Studios, co-producing the movie, has sought a stay on its release, dragging T-Series to the Delhi High Court over an alleged breach of their profit-sharing agreement.

Despite facing mixed reviews, the Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial witnessed massive success at the global box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 2023. Now, with expectations high for its OTT release, the spotlight has shifted to the courtroom drama unfolding between the production houses.

According to reports from Bar And Bench, Cine1 Studios, owned by Murad Khetani, filed a lawsuit claiming that T-Series violated the agreement. The signed pact entitled Cine1 to a 35 percent profit share and 35 percent of the movie’s intellectual property rights. The legal battle alleges that T-Series incurred expenses and reaped box office revenues without sharing details or honoring the profit-sharing agreement.

During today’s court hearing before Justice Sanjeev Narula, Cine1’s advocate, Sandeep Sethi, voiced concerns, stating, “They (T-Series) have been collecting all the money, but I have not been paid a single penny.” He highlighted the longstanding relationship but expressed disappointment in T-Series not upholding the sanctity of the contract.

In response, T-Series advocate Amit Sibal argued, revealing a concealed amendment, “They got ₹2.6 crores. They have not put a pie in the movie and yet got ₹2.6 crores.”

The court session concluded with an adjournment until Thursday, with Sethi ensuring the presence of Cine1 owner Murad Khetani.

Meanwhile, amidst the legal turmoil, reports suggest that “Animal” is set to premiere on Netflix from January 25, following a delay from the initially planned January 15 release. The legal battle adds an unexpected layer of suspense to the film’s journey from theaters to the streaming giant, leaving fans and industry insiders eagerly awaiting the court’s decision on Thursday.