MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi is facing a Rs. 30 million ($300 lakh) defamation and damages claim from an aviation company over comments she allegedly made about a chartered aircraft on social media.
The case is related to an incident in December last year, when Fatehi traveled on a chartered flight from Mumbai to Jaipur. According to the aviation company, the actress recorded videos inside the aircraft and later shared them on Instagram, describing the plane as a small toy and a “Lego airplane.”
The company has alleged that Fatehi’s comments were irresponsible and careless and had no connection with the aircraft’s technical specifications or actual condition.
According to the petition, Fatehi has more than 46 million followers on social media, giving her comments significant reach. The company claims the posts harmed its reputation and affected its business, including a 15% to 20% decline in flight bookings and an increase in cancellations.
The aviation company told the court that the aircraft featured in Fatehi’s posts was fully suitable for passenger travel and had been certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. It also said the aircraft was being operated in accordance with the prescribed National Standard Operating Procedures.
Along with seeking Rs. 30 million in damages, the company has asked the court to direct Fatehi to remove the allegedly defamatory videos and other related content from social media.
The company has also requested that the actress be ordered to issue a public clarification regarding her comments.
The case is scheduled to be heard by a court in Gandhinagar on Sept. 25.