The film, Dr S Anitha MBBS, starring Bigg Boss participant Julie, has run into trouble with Anitha’s father seeking a ban on the biopic based on his daughter, who spearheaded the protest against National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) in Tamil Nadu. The petition was filed by T Shanmugam, father of Ariyalur student and medical aspirant S Anitha, who took her life last year as she could not take up MBBS due to poor scores in NEET.

In the petition filed on November 2, Shanmugam had requested for a ban on Ajaykumar’s upcoming film Dr S Anitha MBBS, a biopic based on his daughter’s life, with the Madras High Court. He had also requested that a sum of Rs 25 lakh be paid to him and his family for the damages caused.

Justice Kalyanasundaram, who heard the petition on Thursday, has directed the director and producer Run Studio Ajay S to respond to the petition by November 22.

Shanmugam also claims that a lawyer notice was sent to Ajay In July asking him to refrain from producing the film, for which he never received any response. In his petition, he has stated that it is “Illegal and an intrusion of privacy” in his daughter’s life. He also adds that the film is being done for the director’s “personal monetary gains and commercial benefit”.

He also said that the film’s director neither has any knowledge of Anitha’s life nor was granted the permission by the family to do so. The petition also reads that the director had not even visited Anitha’s village and that the film has no proper script.

Dr S Anitha MBBS’s first look poster was released in March this year. The poster showed Julie seated on a lotus with a stethoscope around a neck and a book on her lap. The film had received criticism for its very idea and for its casting.

On accepting the offer to play the role, Julie had told the Times of India, “I said ‘yes’ the moment I was approached for the film. These days, when most of the people are taking movies for commercial purpose, this one is for a social cause. So, I wanted to give this a shot. I know there are many people against me — I have faced political issues, too. But I’m happy to be a part of a project, which throws light on Anitha’s life.”