Ainak Wala Jin Rights Row: Director Farhan Khan Rejects Hafeez Tahir’s Allegations

The new animated Ainak Wala Jin film’s director Farhan Khan has addresses the allegation made by original creator of Ainak Wala Jin, Hafeez Tahir, saying that Pakistan Televisio (PTV) legally owns the rights to the iconic series and granted permission for the movie.

Khan told to ‘The Current’ that the Hafiz Tahir’s claimed false allegation about using his concept without approval. Khan described the accusations as “false and defamatory” and said they redirected Tahir’s own judgement rather than the legal position.

Meanwhile, Khan also highlighted that he could not publicly share the agreement with PTV because of confidentiality obligations, but the state-run broadcaster already promoted the film officially on its television and social media platforms. He also mentioned that the mark of PTV logo shown on the film’s official posters, which, according to him, confirms the network’s involvement.

Another statement posted on social media, in which Khan maintain that the film was made only after obtaining the necessary legal approval from PTV. He rejects claims that he had “stolen” the rights, saying the project was produced with proper authorization from PTV. Khan more explain that the film as a step toward the future of filmmaking, adding that innovation must always be supported by legal approval.

The dispute raised after Hafeez Tahir indicted the filmmakers of creating the movie without his permission or awareness. He alleged that the filmmakers used his name and the Ainak Wala Jin concept without consent. Tahir stated disappointment over the variations made to the original characters, comprising Nastoor Jin, and called it “daylight robbery.”

Ainak Wala Jin, which aired on PTV between 1993 and 1996, is still regarded as one of Pakistan’s most popular children’s TV series.

Released in cinemas on July 24, the new Ainak Wala Jin is being promoted on IMDb as Asia’s first AI-generated feature-length film. The disagreement over the film’s rights continues, with both sides standing by their claims.