I sued Karan Johar: Abrar-ul-Haq reopens Nach Punjaban controversy
Pakistani singer Abrar-ul-Haq has once again opened up about his long-running dispute with Indian filmmaker Karan Johar, claiming that his hit song Nach Punjaban was used in a Bollywood film without his permission.
Speaking during a recent interview with Mubashir Hashmi, Abrar alleged that neither Karan Johar nor his team ever contacted him directly to obtain permission before using the popular track.
When asked whether he had approved the song's use, Abrar said permission was never taken. He claimed the film heavily benefited from Nach Punjaban and said he felt his rights had been violated.
Abrar also revealed that he filed a lawsuit against Karan Johar over the matter and maintained that the case has still not been resolved.
Discussing the controversy further, the singer alleged that the song's rights were obtained through a company called Movie Box, which he described as fraudulent. According to Abrar, he never signed any agreement giving the company, or anyone else, the rights to use or sell Nach Punjaban.
He said the dispute is simple from his perspective. According to Abrar, if any written agreement exists transferring the rights, it should be presented. However, he insisted that no such document was ever signed by him.
The singer further claimed that different explanations have been given over the years regarding how the rights were acquired, which, he believes, has only added to the controversy.
Abrar also suggested that the case has remained unresolved partly because he has not actively pursued it in recent years. Despite that, he stressed that the matter has never been settled and that he still considers the use of the song unauthorized.
Nach Punjaban remains one of Abrar-ul-Haq's most popular songs and continues to enjoy a strong fan following years after its release. The dispute surrounding the track's use in Bollywood has repeatedly resurfaced, attracting attention from music fans on both sides of the border.
According to Abrar, his legal case against Karan Johar remains active, and he continues to maintain that permission was never granted for the song's use.