The Delhi High Court is set to hear today an urgent petition filed by actor Salman Khan seeking to restrain the makers of the proposed film “Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy” from producing, promoting, distributing, exhibiting, streaming, releasing or otherwise exploiting the project.
The matter was mentioned before the High Court, which agreed to take it up for urgent consideration. The case is listed before the single-judge Bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna.
Khan moved an application under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure in an already pending commercial suit, seeking an ad-interim injunction against producer Amit Jani, Jani FireFox Films, director Bharat Shrinate, Akshay Pandey and other persons associated with the project.
The actor alleged that the proposed film unlawfully exploited his personality rights, misappropriated his public persona, and falsely portrayed events associated with him. He sought interim directions restraining the defendants from continuing with the film pending final adjudication of the suit.
According to the plea, the film was loosely based on the 1998 blackbuck hunting case involving Khan and allegedly draws inspiration from the controversy surrounding gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The actor contended that although his name was not expressly used, the posters, promotional materials, interviews and public statements connected with the project made him readily identifiable to viewers.
Khan further alleged that the filmmakers have used a lookalike resembling him and styled the character with features closely associated with his public image, including his well-known bracelet. According to him, the promotional campaign had deliberately leveraged his identity and reputation to attract public attention and generate commercial interest.
The application referred to media reports, social media posts, and public statements allegedly made by producer Amit Jani describing the film as being inspired by the blackbuck case and related controversies. Khan contended that these materials established a direct association between the film and his persona and were being used to publicise the project.
The actor stated that he had issued a legal notice dated April 24, 2026, calling upon the defendants to desist from developing, producing and promoting the film. However, despite the notice, promotional activities allegedly continued, prompting him to seek urgent judicial intervention.
Khan argued that the release of the film would cause serious and irreparable harm to his reputation and public image. He further contended that the blackbuck case remained pending before the Rajasthan High Court and that any dramatised or sensationalised depiction of facts connected with the matter could prejudice ongoing judicial proceedings and interfere with the administration of justice.
According to the plea, the film had the potential to influence public perception regarding issues that remain sub judice and may adversely affect his right to a fair trial. He has therefore sought directions restraining the defendants from releasing, publishing, advertising or disseminating any teaser, trailer, poster or other promotional material relating to Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy, as well as an order preventing any further development or production of the project until the dispute is finally decided by the Court.
The dispute has also led to counter-allegations from the filmmakers. In response to Khan’s suit, producer Amit Jani has reportedly claimed that he received death threats.
The controversy surrounding the film gained attention after its makers unveiled the poster last month. The project is said to combine elements of a courtroom drama and crime thriller while drawing inspiration from the blackbuck poaching case involving Khan and the widely discussed dispute between the actor and Lawrence Bishnoi.
In September 1998, members of the Bishnoi community lodged a complaint alleging that Salman Khan, along with actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu, had hunted two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur, Rajasthan, during the shooting of the film Hum Saath Saath Hain. The blackbuck is a Schedule I protected species under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
A Rajasthan trial court convicted Khan on April 5, 2018, and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment. He was subsequently granted bail by a Sessions Court. The other co-accused, including actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam, along with a local resident Dushyant Singh, were acquitted in the case.
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