Delhi HC issues notice on Salman’s plea for stay on Kala Hiran release
The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the stand of the makers of the film Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legal on a plea by actor Salman Khan seeking a stay on its release.
Khan’s counsel argued that the film was purportedly based on the blackbuck poaching case allegedly involving the actor and was in violation of a high court order protecting his personality rights.
A vacation bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued notice to Amit Jani, Akshay Pandey and others on Khan’s application in the matter and listed it for hearing on June 19. The application is part of the 59-year-old Khan’s lawsuit for protection of his personality rights.
The court was informed that while the film’s release date was not known, the makers released a trailer earlier on Friday. Khan’s lawyer contended that the individual in the film looked like him and even dressed like him.
He further submitted that Khan was acquitted in three cases related to the alleged incident of poaching, and an appeal is pending in the Supreme Court in one case.
“The film is sought to be made exploiting my personality rights. I am seeking that the project be injuncted,” added the counsel.
Khan’s application was taken up for hearing after it was mentioned for urgent listing in the morning before a vacation bench of justices Krishna and Madhu Jain.
In the plea, the actor said the film’s poster, released on May 29, shows that there is a “blatant and obvious reference” to him. It stated that although Khan was acquitted of offences under the Arms Act by a court in Rajasthan, the main character in the poster is holding a gun, which is defamatory.
“The character depicted has an uncanny resemblance to the plaintiff and is clearly seen wearing a bracelet, which is immediately and promptly identifiable with the plaintiff and no one else,” stated the application.
“The poster and the proposed Film are therefore clearly spreading a false narrative, misleading and appear to be completely contrary to the actual state of affairs and contrary to records,” it added.
The application also accused the filmmakers of deliberately attempting to “sensationalize” the poaching cases and making headlines to grab public attention at the cost of Khan’s goodwill and reputation.
Khan earlier approached the high court seeking to restrain various social media platforms and e-commerce websites from unauthorisedly using his name, images, persona and likeness and to protect his personality rights.
The high court passed an interim order in his favour on December 11, 2025.
Several public figures, like actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, journalist Sudhir Chaudhary and podcaster Raj Shamani had earlier approached the high court seeking protection of their personality and publicity rights. The high court granted them interim relief.
Recently, the high court also protected the personality rights of politician Shashi Tharoor, cricketer Gautam Gambhir and actors Sonakshi Sinha, Vivek Oberoi, Arun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Allu Arjun by granting interim relief.
