Riteish Deshmukh’s Mastiii 4 Faces Legal Trouble Due To This Reason

Content creator Ashish Sharma claims the adult comedy lifted his 11-million-view skit “Shaq Karne Ka Nateeja”; lawsuit seeks to halt the film’s OTT release scheduled for January 16.

January 7, 2026: The makers of the recently released adult comedy Mastiii 4 have landed in significant legal trouble just days before the film’s digital premiere.

On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the producers following a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by popular radio jockey and content creator Ashish Sharma.

Sharma alleges that a pivotal comedy sequence in the movie is a “blatant copy” of his viral Instagram reel titled “Shaq Karne Ka Nateeja” (The Result of Suspicion), which he posted in January 2024.

The Legal Dispute: Skit vs. Screen

According to the plea heard by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, the content creator claims that the film—starring Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi, and Aftab Shivdasani—reproduces the exact storyline, character interactions, and even the “comic punchline” of his original audio-visual work.

The Demand: Sharma has sought a permanent injunction against the film, financial compensation, and a full rendition of the accounts (profits) from the theatrical run.
The Stakes: While the film completed its theatrical run in November 2025, it is currently slated for an OTT release on January 16, 2026. The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 13, just three days before its digital debut, to decide on an interim stay.

A Look at ‘Mastiii 4’ Performance

Directed by Milap Zaveri, the fourth installment of the Masti franchise hit theaters on November 21, 2025. Despite the hype of reuniting the “OG Trio,” the film struggled at the box office.

Metric	Details
Budget	₹40 Crore – ₹50 Crore (Estimated)
India Net Collection	~₹14.9 Crore
Worldwide Gross	~₹19.25 Crore
Verdict	Box Office Bomb

Critics panned the film for its “dated humor,” and it currently stands as the lowest-grossing entry in the 22nd-year franchise, failing to surpass the opening weekend numbers of its predecessor, Great Grand Masti.

“Purely for Entertainment”: Aftab Shivdasani Defends the Film

Amid the legal and critical backlash, lead actor Aftab Shivdasani addressed the long-standing criticism regarding the franchise’s tone. Speaking to Times Now, he refuted claims that the film promotes infidelity or the objectification of women.

“The premise has always been simple: three men want to have fun outside, but end up learning a lesson from their wives,” Aftab explained. “It’s just for fun, not to be taken seriously. Many serious films tackle affairs without being questioned, but when Masti does it, it causes an uproar.”

Production Credits

The film is a joint venture presented by Waveband Production and Zee Studios, in association with Maruti International and Balaji Telefilms. Producers include Indra Kumar, Ashok Thakeria, Shobha Kapoor, and Ekta Kapoor.