The Delhi High Court has issued notice on an interim application filed by Bollywood actor Salman Khan seeking to restrain the makers of the proposed film “Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy” from releasing the film. A vacation bench comprising Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued the notice on the interim injunction application against the film’s release.
Background
Salman Khan filed the application in connection with a suit, claiming that the proposed film “Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy” appears to be based on events from his life and career, including his personal controversies. The actor contended that the film, if released, would cause irreparable harm to his reputation and constitute an invasion of his privacy.
The term “Kala Hiran” (black deer) is associated with a prominent case involving Salman Khan — the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan, for which he was convicted by a lower court and later acquitted by the Rajasthan High Court in 2018.
Actor’s Contentions
Khan’s legal team reportedly argued that the film appears to be inspired by real events from his life without his consent, and that such a film could harm his reputation by presenting a prejudicial narrative. They sought an injunction restraining the makers from releasing the film pending hearing of the suit.
Personality Rights in Indian Law
The case raises important questions about personality rights in Indian entertainment law. While the right to freedom of expression allows creative works inspired by real events, courts have also recognised that individuals — particularly public figures — have certain rights over how their persona is used in creative works, especially if such use is defamatory or invades their reasonable expectation of privacy.
Indian courts have, in recent years, increasingly recognised and enforced personality rights, following the evolution of privacy rights jurisprudence, including the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), which recognised the right to privacy as a fundamental right.
Next Date
The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the film’s makers. The matter is listed for further hearing on a date to be fixed by the vacation bench.
Court: Delhi High Court | Bench: Justice Neena Bansal Krishna | Source: LiveLaw | June 2026
