The Delhi High Court (HC) on Friday postponed the hearing on Bollywood star Salman Khan’s plea seeking to halt the release of the upcoming film, ‘Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy,’ after the film’s makers requested additional time to respond to the allegations levelled against them. 

Khan has alleged that the film seeks to exploit his life, image and earlier legal controversies without obtaining his consent, prompting him to opt for legal recourse against its filming, release and promotion. 

Court grants time to Kala Hiran makers

During the case’s hearing on Friday, the counsel representing the makers of Kala Hiran informed the court that they had received a copy of Khan’s application only on June 17 and that they needed more time to examine the contents as well as prepare a detailed response.

Reports claimed that Justice Madhu Jain heard submissions from both parties before deciding to defer the hearing. The court also directed Khan’s legal team to provide the complete set of pleadings to the respondents by June 19. 

The case has now been listed before the roster bench and will now be heard on July 1, 2026. 

Salman seeks interim protection

Appearing on actor Salman Khan’s behalf, senior advocate Sandeep Sethi urged the court to grant interim protection, contending that the film and its promotional material could cause irreparable damage to Khan’s reputation. 

The actor contended that the teaser of the film had already been released and that the filmmakers were using imagery and references closely associated with him despite not having secured his permission. 

Khan’s legal team further claimed that a notice sent to the film’s producer, Amit Jani, had allegedly been disregarded, making judicial intervention necessary to prevent the further promotion of the project. On the other hand, the counsel representing the film’s makers opposed any interim relief. They said that producer Jani had allegedly received death threats in connection with the controversy and had already lodged a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the same. 

The respondents in the case include producer Amit Jani, Jani Firefox films, director Bharat S. Shrinate, Akshay Pandey and other people linked to the project. 

Details of the controversy

The controversy stems from promotional material released last month for Kala Hiran. A poster featured a character bearing a striking resemblance to Salman Khan, including a distinctive blue-and-silver bracelet similar to the one worn by the actor frequently. 

Although Khan’s name has not been mentioned explicitly, the actor has argued that the film’s promotional campaign and public statements by its makers clearly allude to him and his connection to the long-standing blackbuck poaching case. 

Khan has also maintained that certain aspects referenced in the film relate to matters which remain subject to judicial scrutiny before higher courts. His plea mentioned that the film’s release could potentially prejudice ongoing legal proceedings and compromise his right to a fair trial.