MUMBAI: After the late Prakash Mehra’s son Amit Mehra announced the making of his father’s 1973 classic Zanjeer, scriptwriters Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar have jointly decided to initiate proceedings against him saying that this was a case of creative and copyright infringement.

Akhtar has complained that the producers haven‘t consulted them before going ahead with the remake plans of the film. He has also said that for any change in the original screenplay, the consent of the writer must be taken.

“I think there is a moral issue involved in the debate that goes beyond legal issues. Perhaps the people who are thinking of remaking Zanjeer have paid for the rights to do so. But creative rights are not like buying property. Salim Saab and I wrote Zanjeer. It is our moral right to be informed about any plans to use our creative resources,” averred Akhtar. "I’ll be taking a very firm legal stand on this to find out what their position is on copyright correctness."

Meanwhile, Mehra has said that he can never think of remaking Zanjeer without the blessings of the scriptwriters. "They’re a family to me. After dad passed away, they’ve been like my guardians. Their contribution to most of my dad’s films, particularly Zanjeer can’t be undermined," he said.

Since the film is still at a nascent stage, he didn’t meet the writers, but he would meet them and seek their blessings once everything is confirmed.

The remake, directed by Apoorva Lakhia, is being jointly produced by Reliance Entertainment, Adai Mehra Productions Private Limited and Flying Turtle Films. The film is to be presented by Reliance Entertainment.