Kamal Ghorui
The Bombay High Court has disposed of a commercial appeal between White Feather Films and Pritish Nandy Communications after both parties agreed to settle a decade-old legal dispute linked to the 2002 Sanjay Gupta directorial Kaante.A long-running legal battle over the Bollywood film Kaante has finally moved toward a formal conclusion. The Bombay High Court has disposed of a commercial appeal between director Sanjay Gupta’s production banner White Feather Films and Pritish Nandy Communications, after both parties agreed on consent terms. As part of the settlement, Pritish Nandy Communications is set to receive a lump sum of Rs 2.55 crore, a reduced figure compared to the original claim of Rs 3.52 crore plus applicable interest, which stemmed from a 2016 arbitration award.What the Bombay High Court order saysAccording to a report by Film Information, as stated by Bollywood Hungama, the dispute pertained to Commercial Appeal (Lodging) No. 9838 of 2026. The Bomba High Court accepted the settlement through an order dated April 21, 2026, which was uploaded on April 23. Under the agreed consent terms, Pritish Nandy Communications will receive the settled amount of Rs 2.55 crore within 60 days. Crucially, the settlement includes a safeguard clause: should White Feather Films fail to pay within the stipulated period, the original litigation proceedings would resume.More about the legal disputeThe roots of this dispute dates back to a 2016 arbitration award, under which White Feather Films was directed to pay Pritish Nandy Communications Rs 3.52 crore along with applicable interest, the award being connected to the production and commercial dealings around Kaante. Over the subsequent years, Pritish Nandy Communications pursued multiple legal remedies to enforce the arbitration award, including property injunction proceedings reportedly initiated in 2020. The recent settlement, at Rs 2.55 crore net, represents a negotiated resolution lower than the original award but one that both parties have accepted in lieu of continued litigation.About ‘Kaante’‘Kaante’, released in 2002, remains one of the most talked-about Hindi films of its era — a heist thriller directed by Sanjay Gupta that was openly influenced by Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. The film boasted a marquee ensemble cast featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Kumar Gaurav, and Mahesh Manjrekar, all playing Indian immigrants in Los Angeles planning a bank robbery. At the time of its release, its slick production values, international shooting locations, and A-list cast made it a significant talking point in Bollywood. The film was produced under the White Feather Films banner by Sanjay Gupta himself.About Pritish Nandy CommunicationsPritish Nandy Communications (PNC) is one of India’s well-known independent film and content production companies, founded by poet, journalist, and media personality Pritish Nandy. The company has produced several notable Hindi films and television properties over the years. The settlement marks what appears to be the end of a years-long effort by PNC to realise dues from the Kaante project, with the Bombay High Court’s disposal of the commercial appeal now formally closing this chapter of the dispute — provided the payment is made within the 60-day window.Disclaimer: This story is based on events as reported by news sources and is for informational purposes only. The accuracy of the details, including the identity and mental state of the individuals involved, cannot be independently verified and may be subject to change as the ivestigation progresses. This information should not be considered a definitive account of the events.
