JUDGMENT :

Prathiba M. Singh, J.

1. "He threw acid on my face, not on my dreams" - so said the valiant survivor of acid attack - Ms. Laxmi Agarwal. Her arduous and heroic journey since the time she was attacked at the young age of 15 is the subject matter of the cinematograph film 'CHHAPAAK'.

2. Director/Producer, Ms. Meghna Gulzar, who is Defendant No.1 in the present suit, has produced and directed cinematograph film 'CHHAPAAK', which was released yesterday i.e. on 10th January, 2020 across the country. The film relates to an important social cause i.e., the portrayal of women who are acid attack victims. It has been publicly acknowledged that the film was inspired by a real-life event which occurred in the case of an acid attack victim Ms. Laxmi Aggarwal - her emotional and legal journey. The film seeks to capture, in a fictionalised manner the events that occurred since 2005. The film itself is a fictionalised version of real-life events.

3. The Respondent No.1/Plaintiff - Ms. Aparna Bhat (hereinafter, "Plaintiff") is a practising lawyer. As per the plaint, she is stated to be