Bollywood actor Salman Khan has officially filed a plea in the Delhi High Court to halt the release and promotion of the upcoming film Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy. The actor’s legal team is arguing the production is an unauthorized exploitation of his personality and publicity rights. The situation quickly escalated outside the courtroom when the film’s producer, Amit Jani, publicly tore up the legal notice, accusing the star of using his industry weight for intimidation while claiming the production team is now receiving severe death threats.
The core of the legal dispute centers on the film’s lead character, who is deliberately styled to mirror Khan. The character wears the actor’s signature blue bracelet and is depicted holding a firearm. Khan’s legal team argues this styling creates a misleading public narrative, specifically pointing to his previous acquittal under the Arms Act. During a hearing on Friday, the Delhi High Court deferred the matter to July 1 after the filmmakers’ counsel requested additional time to file a formal response.
The tension surrounding the project is already causing a physical fallout among the cast. Actor Sonu Mmishra recently revealed he quit the project after just two days of shooting because his contract allegedly included a mandate requiring him to speak negatively about Salman Khan to the media. Following that exit, veteran actor Govind Namdev also publicly distanced himself from the controversial production.
Director Bharat S. Shrinate remains unfazed by the legal pressure. Pointing to his previous experience directing Udaipur Files, Shrinate stated he is fully prepared to handle the incoming legal battles and public criticism. To strengthen their position, Khan’s legal team is currently leaning on a prior November 11, 2025, Delhi High Court order that officially recognized and protected his personality and publicity rights from unauthorized commercial use.
The film’s narrative is heavily inspired by the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, which occurred during the shoot of Hum Saath-Saath Hain. That incident resulted in Khan’s initial conviction in 2018, with his appeal currently pending before the Rajasthan High Court. The ongoing controversy is also closely tied to active threats against Khan from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who continue to cite the 1998 hunting incident as their primary motive and previously claimed responsibility for firing shots outside Khan’s Mumbai residence in 2024.