Nora Fatehi Faces Rs300 Million Defamation Claim Over ‘Toy Plane’ Comments

MUMBAI: Moroccan-Canadian Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi has been hit with a Rs300 million defamation and damages lawsuit after an aviation company accused her of making derogatory comments about one of its chartered aircraft.

The lawsuit, filed before a court in Gandhinagar, alleges that Fatehi’s remarks describing the chartered aircraft as a “toy” and a “Lego airplane” were irresponsible and defamatory, causing serious damage to the company’s reputation and business.

The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 25.

According to the aviation company, Fatehi recorded videos inside the aircraft while travelling from Mumbai to Jaipur in December last year. She later posted the videos on her Instagram account, referring to the aircraft as a small toy and a Lego airplane.

The company claims that her comments led to several booking cancellations and caused significant financial losses. In its petition filed in April, the company described her statements as reckless and irresponsible, arguing that they were not based on technical information or facts.

The company further stated that Fatehi has more than 46 million social media followers, meaning her remarks had a substantial impact on its reputation and business. It claimed that bookings declined by 15 to 20 percent, while cancellations also increased.

According to the company, the aircraft was routinely used and fully suitable for passenger travel. It claimed that the aircraft was duly certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), airworthy and being operated in accordance with applicable safety procedures.

In addition to Rs300 million in damages, the company has asked the court to order the immediate removal of all statements and related material posted by Fatehi about the aircraft from social media platforms.

The company has also sought a public clarification from the actress regarding her comments.