Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent interim injunction against the makers of the upcoming film Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy. The actor has alleged that the project unlawfully exploits his personality and publicity rights, and could severely prejudice his right to a fair trial in the ongoing 1998 blackbuck poaching case.

The commercial suit, filed under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, names producer Amit Jani, Jani FireFox Films, director Bharat Shrinate, and casting director Akshay Pandey as respondents. Khan’s legal counsel has sought a complete restraint on the film's production, promotion, release, and streaming, as well as the immediate withdrawal of its recently released promotional content.

Lookalike character sparks legal row

According to the petition, the filmmakers have deployed a lookalike actor, Kashif Iqbal Khan, to portray a character named 'Ayan Khan' who is explicitly modeled after the superstar. The plea points out that the character is styled with distinctive personal traits uniquely associated with Salman Khan in the public imagination, most notably his signature turquoise blue bracelet.

Furthermore, Khan’s legal team argued that the promotional materials feature the character holding a firearm, which they claim creates a highly misleading narrative given that the actor was officially acquitted in the related Arms Act proceedings in January 2017.

Prejudice to pending judicial proceedings

The core of the legal objection rests on the potential impact of the film on active judicial matters. The petition underscores that the main appeals concerning the 1998 blackbuck hunting case are currently pending before the Rajasthan High Court, with the next crucial hearing scheduled for July 13, 2026.

Khan’s lawyers asserted that a highly dramatised and sensationalised cinematic portrayal of an sub-judice matter could heavily influence public opinion and interfere with the administration of justice. The plea noted that the film apparently weaves in the highly publicised, ongoing tensions between the actor and jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, whose community holds the blackbuck sacred.

Producer tears up legal notice

The move to the Delhi High Court follows a cease-and-desist notice sent by Khan through law firm DSK Legal on April 24, 2026. Rather than complying, producer Amit Jani escalated the dispute by releasing a public video showing him tearing up the legal document.

Jani claimed that the film is not an exclusive biopic of Salman Khan but rather focuses on the struggles, heritage, and wildlife dedication of the Bishnoi community. He also alleged receiving hundreds of threatening messages from online "toolkits" and criminal syndicates following the legal notice. Khan's petition countered that the filmmakers are actively capitalizing on the actor’s fame and controversy for unauthorized commercial gain.

Decades-old legal battle resurfaces

The film draws directly from events that occurred in September 1998 during the Jodhpur shooting schedule of the movie Hum Saath-Saath Hain. A trial court convicted Salman Khan in April 2018, sentencing him to five years in prison under the Wildlife Protection Act, while co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre, and Neelam were acquitted. Khan, who is currently out on bail, has maintained his legal challenge against the conviction.

The Delhi High Court is expected to hear the application for an ad-interim injunction early next week, a decision that will determine whether the film's scheduled teaser release on June 20 can proceed.