YouTube has removed Bollywood director Shirish Kunder’s short film ‘Kriti’ due to a copyright claim by Nepali filmmaker Aneel Neupane.

Earlier on Monday, Kunder had filed a legal notice against Neupane, who claimed that the Bollywood filmmaker's short movie "Kriti" is a copy of his film ‘BOB’. He has also sought a written apology from Neupane, according to IANS.

Neupane said that BOB was completed in October, 2015. He uploaded it on video sharing site Vimeo as a private video to share with his close friends. The film was released on YouTube on May 12, 2016.

Kunder, in his defence said, ‘I'm aware that posts online are claiming that my short film Kriti has some resemblances with a Nepali film by a completely unknown maker. But the fact is this film was uploaded on YouTube on May 12, while my film was shot and ready in February. The story was locked last year itself so unless I am a time traveller, it is impossible that I copied this film.’

To those comparing #Kriti with some short film released on May 12, 2016:#Kriti was shot in February, 2016.

Hope this settles the matter.

— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) June 24, 2016

About their claims of a private Vimeo link shared with close friends on October 2015:

I'm not even their friend. Let alone close friend.

— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) June 24, 2016

2 Million views for #Kriti!

Those who seek truth will find it in facts.

Those who seek hate will remain in denial.https://t.co/UBqd8m6nYf

— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) June 25, 2016

When asked about removal of Kriti from Youtube, Neupane said, ‘I'm super glad but also a bit nervous. Actually a lot nervous about what's going to happen next.’

Nepali Tweeps and Facebook users have been trending #KritiStoleBob in the social media sites for over a week now. Some users have claimed that even the poster of Kriti was inspired by a Japanese movie poster. Youths have also started a petition demanding Kunder to withdraw his legal notice against Neupane.

Watch BOB here.