LegalDispute – Delhi High Court Reviews Plea Against Upcoming Film Release
LegalDispute – The Delhi High Court on Friday took up a plea filed by actor Salman Khan seeking restrictions on the release of the film “Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy.” The court issued notices to key individuals associated with the project, including the producer, director, and casting director, after allegations were raised regarding the film’s content and its portrayal of the actor.
Court Seeks Response From Filmmakers
The matter came before a vacation bench headed by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna. During the hearing, the court directed notices to producer Amit Jani, production house Jani FireFox Films, director Bharat Shrinate, and casting director Akshay Pandey. The judge also scheduled the next hearing for June 19 and instructed all respondents to submit their replies before that date.
According to submissions made on behalf of Salman Khan, the film was allegedly produced without his consent and contains references that suggest connections between the actor and criminal networks. The actor has argued that such depictions are damaging to his reputation and violate his legally protected personality rights.
Objections Raised Over Film Poster and Trailer
The latest application filed in court states that promotional material connected to the movie contains elements that closely resemble Salman Khan. The plea points to a poster released on May 29, claiming that it features a character with physical traits similar to the actor, including a bracelet that has long been associated with his public image.
The court was informed that the film’s trailer had already been released, although it was reportedly expected to be launched on June 20. This development prompted the actor’s legal team to seek an urgent stay on the film’s release while the matter remains under judicial consideration.
Personality Rights and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Salman Khan’s petition has been filed within an already pending lawsuit concerning the protection of his personality rights. The High Court had earlier granted interim protection in relation to those rights.
The actor’s legal representatives further argued that the film could influence public perception regarding the long-running blackbuck hunting case linked to him. They submitted that legal proceedings connected to the matter are still pending before higher courts, including the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court. As a result, they contended that the film may interfere with the principle of a fair legal process.
Court records also mention that Khan had initially sent a legal notice to the filmmakers. The plea alleges that the notice was publicly torn up by the producer during an interview. It further claims that social media posts later suggested that the filmmaker was facing pressure from the actor and alleged criminal elements.
Separate Matter on Judicial Officer’s Online Criticism
In another proceeding heard on Friday, the Delhi High Court declined a request to initiate contempt proceedings on its own against individuals accused of targeting a sessions court judge online.
Senior advocate Percival Billimoria, appearing on behalf of political commentator Abhijit Iyer Mitra, urged the court to take suo motu cognisance of comments directed at the judicial officer. The controversy arose after a sessions court judge stayed an earlier magistrate’s order that had directed the registration of an FIR against Mitra.
After reviewing the material presented before her, Justice Neena Bansal Krishna observed that the circumstances did not warrant the court initiating contempt action on its own. Consequently, the request was not accepted, bringing the matter to a close for the time being.