Producer Amit Jani has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Delhi High Court’s interim order concerning Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy. The earlier order directed the film’s makers to remove its teaser and other promotional material following a personality rights case filed by Salman Khan.
Jani, who is producing the film under Jani FireFox Films, has contested the order passed on July 27. The dispute began after the teaser of Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy was released on July 17 and attracted attention for its apparent references to the blackbuck poaching case involving Salman.
In his appeal, the producer has questioned the decision to restrict the promotional material without identifying the specific content through which Salman’s personality was allegedly appropriated or commercially exploited.
According to the plea, such an interpretation could affect independent filmmakers, journalists and artists seeking to examine or dramatise matters of public interest. It further contends that personality rights should not be used to prevent creative expression merely because a work contains events or characters that audiences might associate with a public figure.
Salman had previously approached the Delhi High Court alleging that the teaser and promotional campaign for Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy commercially exploited his personality without permission. His plea stated that the film features a fictional character named Ayan Khan who has allegedly been created to resemble and allude to him.
The actor also raised objections to alleged references to his films Dabangg and Sikandar. His petition claimed that the teaser contains elements associated with the pending blackbuck poaching case, including the courtroom trial of a superstar accused of killing a blackbuck.
The promotional material is also said to feature dramatised witness examinations, forensic findings and alleged attempts to threaten or influence witnesses. Salman’s legal team argued that these elements could mislead viewers and damage his reputation.
While issuing its interim order, the Delhi High Court observed that Salman had established a prima facie case concerning the alleged violation of his personality rights. The court also noted the possibility of irreparable reputational harm and directed the makers to take down the teaser and related promotional content.
With Amit Jani now challenging that decision, the dispute has moved to the Supreme Court. The case is expected to examine whether the promotional material infringes Salman’s personality rights and how such protections should be balanced against artistic and creative freedom.