Observing that cinematic portrayals, even if they bear similarities to real-life events, cannot influence or sway courts adjudicating criminal cases, the High Court of Karnataka dismissed actor Darshan’s plea to stop the release of Kannada film Boss.
Darshan had claimed that the film mirrored his alleged role in the Renukaswamy murder case and that its release could prejudice his right to a fair trial.
Rejecting his claim, the court said that “merely because a movie is released depicting few instances, which may be similar to the allegations in the ongoing trial, it cannot be said that the courts dealing with such criminal trial would be influenced or swayed by such depiction of art or similarities in the movie to decide the merits of the criminal trial.”
Justice Pradeep Singh Yerur passed the order recently while dismissing the appeal filed by Darshan and his wife Vijayalakshmi against a June 2, 2026, interim order passed by a city civil court, which had lifted the temporary injunction granted by it on March 27, 2026, against the release of the movie. The temporary injunction was granted on a suit filed by Darshan and his wife and it was lifted while allowing the plea of movie’s producer Siri Productions of Tanush S., who is also the lead actor in the movie, and its director V. Lava .
This order now paves the way for release of the movie, which was originally scheduled for release in April.
On the basis of law
While dismissing Darshan’s plea, the High Court made it clear that courts adjudicate criminal cases on the basis of the law, the materials available on record, whether oral or documentary, the statements of witnesses, and other relevant factors; and this exercise is governed by legal principles and precedents, and not by a depiction in a movie, notwithstanding any similarities in the movie to the cases.
Darshan and his wife had claimed the movie’s teaser depicted at least 13 striking parallels to the alleged real-life incident in Renukaswamy case, including the protagonist’s nickname, the crime scene, etc.
However, Justice Yerur said that BOSS is neither a biographical account of Darshan nor does it wholly depict the circumstances in which Darshan is implicated in the criminal case.
The movie’s producer had told the court that the movie is fiction and does not contain any name, photographs, family details, profession of Darshan or any of his particulars as the movie’s hero is a cricket player, and he does not commit any murder, kidnap, grievous assault etc., and he is finally shown to be elected as a MLA.
Further, the High Court held that similarities with real events cannot justify restricting a film unless the expression falls within reasonable restrictions on free speech under Article 19(2) of the Constitution of India.
No ‘super censor board’
As the Central Board of Film Certification has already certified the film imposing cuts and disclaimers, the court should not act as “a super censor board” over it, Justice Yerur observed while clarifying that this order would not come in the way of final adjudication of the suit pending before the civil court.
