MUMBAI: Actress-turned-author Seema Seth has lodged a complaint against Madhur Bhandarkar for allegedly stealing the plot and idea of his film Fashion from her book El-Dorado and not giving her credit.

In her complaint, Seth said Bhandarkar had indulged in clear-cut violation of the Copyright Act. She has also made Ronnie Screwala of UTV Motion Pictures a party in the case where she has sought compensation to the tune of Rs 25 million.

"All the plot and the idea has been stolen from the said book wherein the story begins in Kolkata where an aspiring model wishes to go to Mumbai but her father opposes and mother supports," she reportedly told the Court.

Seth, who argued her case in person, said lawyers engaged by her were tutored and threatened to wash their hands off her case.

The matter that was till yet being heard in the Metropolitan Court has been referred to a designated special court here dealing with copyright cases. The court has till date been hearing the matter since January.

Incidentally, Seth’s book was published three months prior to release of the film on 29 October 2008.