Maharaj to Baby Reindeer: Films and web series based on 'true stories' that faced legal trouble

At a time when true-crime television and films are the hot trend of the season, the lines between fact and fiction too often get blurred. Even the phrase "based on a true story" is often stretched to extremes that they lead to both acclaim and legal trouble. Several high-profile films and web series have found themselves in court, accused of misrepresentation and defamation, due to their interpretation of real-life events.

'Maharaj', the debut film of Bollywood star Aamir Khan's son, Junaid, was set to release on Netflix last week. However, the Gujarat High Court extended an interim stay on the film's release after eight members of the Pushtimarg sect filed a petition. The petitioners raised concerns over the film's portrayal of a British-era libel case from 1862, which they argued 'defamed the Hindu religion' and made blasphemous comments against Lord Krishna and devotional hymns. Despite the controversy, advocates for the film maintain that it is based on 'historical legal proceedings', which are a matter of public record.
The 1862 libel case was centred on a clash between a Vaishnavite religious leader and social reformer, Karsandas Mulji, who, in an article in a Gujarati weekly, had alleged that the godman had sexual liaisons with his female devotees.

The hugely popular mini-series 'Baby Reindeer' landed in legal trouble after Fiona Harvey, a Scottish woman, sued streaming giant Netflix for a staggering $170 million in a defamation suit. Harvey claimed the series, which calls itself a "true story," falsely portrayed her as a twice-convicted stalker sentenced to five years in prison, causing significant personal and professional damage. The show was widely promoted as one based on creator Richard Gadd's real-life experiences. However, according to the complaint, the "defendants told these lies, and never stopped, because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money." Netflix has vowed to defend the matter vigorously, emphasizing "Gadd's right to tell his story."

Former Nickelodeon producer and writer Dan Schneider filed a defamation lawsuit against the makers of the documentary series 'Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV'. Schneider alleged that the series wrongly implied he sexually abused child actors. The documentary, which delves into the alleged toxic work environment at Nickelodeon during his tenure, stirred significant controversy following allegations of sexual abuse of child actors, including 'Drake & Josh' star Drake Bell.
Schneider's lawsuit argues that the series presents a misleading and damaging portrayal of his actions and professional conduct.

'Dumb Money', a film that brought to screens the real-life 2021 Reddit-GameStop affair, faced potential legal challenges from Ken Griffin, CEO of Citadel hedge fund. Griffin's portrayal in the film, played by Nick Offerman, prompted his legal team to send threatening letters to Sony Pictures, accusing the film of defamatory content. The legal dispute was over the dramatizing of real events and maintaining factual accuracy.

The creators of Netflix's 'When They See Us', a series about the wrongful convictions of the Central Park Five, faced a defamation lawsuit from former prosecutor Linda Fairstein. Fairstein claimed the series misrepresented her role in the case and portrayed her in a defamatory manner and as a 'racist'. She told CNN that the show, which was actively marketed and promoted as a true story, depicted her at places she never was and “making decisions she never made.”
Netflix eventually settled the lawsuit by moving a disclaimer to the start of episodes and donating $1 million to a nonprofit aiding the wrongfully convicted.