There is no immediate relief for Salman Khan. The Delhi High Court on Friday postponed the hearing on his case against the movie Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy, meaning the superstar will have to wait for the court to step in.
According to a Live Law India report, a vacation bench led by Justice Madhu Jain ordered the actor’s legal team to give a full copy of the lawsuit papers and related documents to the filmmakers. The court then moved the case to July 1 for a more detailed debate.
What is the core dispute?
Salman Khan has moved court to stop the release of Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy, alleging that the film is an unauthorised depiction of his 1998 blackbuck poaching case and his reported tensions with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.
In court, his lawyer, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, clearly stated: “He is producing a film on my life... he has no right. I have not authorised him.” His legal team argued that the filmmakers are wrongly using his name, image, and public identity for commercial gain. They maintained that even though his name is not directly used, the story and presentation are closely linked to his real life.
They also pointed to specific scenes from the film’s promotions. According to them, the main character closely resembles Salman Khan and is even shown wearing his signature turquoise blue bracelet. The teaser also features the character holding a gun, which his team says is misleading and harmful, especially since Khan was cleared of Arms Act charges in real life. They argued the film distorts facts and uses his life story without consent to attract attention and profit.
{{/usCountry}}They also pointed to specific scenes from the film’s promotions. According to them, the main character closely resembles Salman Khan and is even shown wearing his signature turquoise blue bracelet. The teaser also features the character holding a gun, which his team says is misleading and harmful, especially since Khan was cleared of Arms Act charges in real life. They argued the film distorts facts and uses his life story without consent to attract attention and profit.
{{/usCountry}}The defense from the filmmakers
The filmmakers' lawyers pushed back against the demand to immediately block the movie. They told the court they only received a partial copy of the legal paperwork on Wednesday, instead of the full lawsuit.
The defense also shared that the production team is facing a severe backlash. They informed the judge that the team has been receiving serious death threats over the movie's topic and has already filed an official police complaint about the safety risks.
How the court ruled
Justice Madhu Jain firmly denied the actor's request for immediate temporary relief after listening to both sides. Instead, she ordered Salman Khan's legal team to give the filmmakers all the necessary court papers so they can prepare their defense. The case has now been moved to a regular bench and scheduled for July 1. Before the hearing ended, Salman Khan's lawyers made a final attempt to get an earlier date, but the judge refused, noting that the July schedule was already locked in.
Speaking to India Today, producer Amit Jani earlier said, “This is not a Salman Khan biopic. The film is based on a larger story involving the Bishnoi community, their struggle, and their deep connection with wildlife. We have tried to bring that story to the screen. I have not shown Salman Khan in a negative light, nor have I glorified Lawrence Bishnoi. The film presents what is already available in the public domain and highlights the beliefs and history of the Bishnoi community.”
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