Gandhinagar: Bollywood actor and dancer Nora Fatehi is facing a ₹3 crore civil defamation suit filed by aviation company Dunes Aviation over her social media comments about one of its chartered aircraft. The company has alleged that Fatehi’s description of the aircraft as a “toy” and “Lego airplane” caused serious reputational and commercial damage.

The case has been filed before a Gandhinagar court in Gujarat and is scheduled to come up before Senior Civil Judge R Agarwal on September 25. Dunes Aviation is seeking ₹3 crore in damages, along with other reliefs over the posts that the company claims harmed its business.

Dispute began with aircraft videos

According to the reports, the dispute dates back to December last year, when Fatehi travelled from Mumbai to Jaipur aboard a Cessna Citation CJ2 operated by Dunes Aviation.

During the journey, the actor reportedly recorded videos inside the aircraft and later shared them on Instagram. In the videos, she allegedly described the aircraft using terms including “miniature”, “toy” and “Lego airplane”.

Dunes Aviation has objected to these comments, arguing that they presented the aircraft in a negative manner to a very large online audience. The company has alleged that Fatehi’s remarks were “derogatory and reckless” and were made without technical knowledge or verification.

The company has also claimed that the comments had consequences beyond social media and affected its commercial operations.

Aviation firm claims bookings fell

A key part of Dunes Aviation’s case is its allegation that the actor’s comments resulted in a decline in bookings.

According to the company, it experienced a 15–20 per cent decline in bookings following Fatehi’s remarks, along with an increase in cancellations. Dunes Aviation has attributed the alleged business impact to the reach of Fatehi’s social media posts and her large follower base.

The aviation company has alleged that the comments caused reputational damage, loss of goodwill and an adverse commercial impact.

The claims are part of the civil defamation proceedings and have not been established as findings against Fatehi. The court will consider the matter as the case proceeds.

Company says aircraft was certified and airworthy

Dunes Aviation has also challenged any suggestion that the aircraft was unsuitable or unsafe.

The company said the Cessna Citation CJ2 used for the Mumbai-Jaipur journey was a standard aircraft of its category and was appropriately sized for the trip. It further stated that the aircraft was certified by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and was airworthy.

According to the company, the aircraft was being operated lawfully under a valid Non-Scheduled Operator’s Permit (NSOP).

These assertions form part of Dunes Aviation’s response to the comments that triggered the legal dispute.

What Dunes Aviation is seeking

Apart from ₹3 crore in damages, the aviation company has sought removal of the allegedly defamatory content from social media.

The company has also sought a public clarification from Fatehi, according to PTI-based reports. Its argument is that removing the content and addressing the allegations publicly would help limit any continuing impact on its reputation and business.

Dunes Aviation has characterised the actor’s statements as irresponsible and has argued that they were made without sufficient technical understanding of the aircraft.

The court will now have to consider the company’s claims as the proceedings move forward.

Fatehi’s social media reach becomes part of case

The aviation firm’s complaint places particular emphasis on the reach of Fatehi’s social media accounts.

NDTV reported that Dunes Aviation cited her following of more than 4.6 crore Instagram users, arguing that the size of her audience amplified the impact of the comments.

The case highlights the potential legal and commercial consequences when celebrities make public comments about brands or businesses on social media.

For companies operating in sectors such as aviation, where safety, reliability and customer confidence are important, even seemingly casual comments can potentially affect public perception. Dunes Aviation’s claim that bookings fell after the posts is therefore central to its demand for compensation.

Court hearing scheduled for September 25

The civil defamation case is scheduled to be heard by Senior Civil Judge R Agarwal at the Gandhinagar court on September 25.

At this stage, the allegations made by Dunes Aviation remain claims before the court. The filing of a civil defamation suit does not establish that Fatehi is legally liable for the alleged losses.

The proceedings are expected to examine the context of the social media posts, the meaning and impact of the remarks, the company’s claims of reputational and financial damage, and the evidence supporting the ₹3 crore compensation sought.

The case also underlines the growing legal scrutiny surrounding celebrity statements made on social media, particularly when those statements involve commercial entities.

For now, the dispute between Nora Fatehi and Dunes Aviation will move into the courtroom, with the next significant hearing scheduled for September 25.