MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi is facing a defamation and damages claim of Rs30 million (INR 30 million) from an aviation company over comments she allegedly made about a chartered aircraft on social media.
The case has been filed in a court in Gandhinagar, with the next hearing scheduled for September 25. According to the aviation company, the dispute dates back to December last year, when Fatehi travelled on a chartered flight from Mumbai to Jaipur.
Actress described aircraft as a ‘Lego airplane’
During the flight, Fatehi reportedly recorded videos inside the aircraft and later shared them on Instagram. In the posts, she allegedly described the aircraft as a “small toy” and a “Lego airplane.”
The aviation company has claimed that the comments were irresponsible and careless and did not reflect the aircraft’s technical condition or actual operational status.
According to the company’s court petition, Fatehi has more than 46 million social media followers, allowing the comments to reach a large audience. It claims the posts damaged the company’s reputation and affected its business.
The company has alleged that flight bookings declined by 15 to 20 percent following the social media posts, while cancellations also increased.
Company says aircraft was certified
The aviation company has maintained that the chartered aircraft was fully suitable for passenger travel and had been certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
It also claimed that the aircraft was being operated in accordance with the prescribed National Safety and Operational Procedures (NSOP).
Along with seeking Rs30 million in damages, the company has asked the court to order Fatehi to remove the allegedly defamatory videos and related content from social media.
The company has also sought an order requiring the actress to issue a public clarification regarding her comments.
The allegations contained in the lawsuit have yet to be adjudicated by the court.