The Delhi High Court on Monday ordered the removal of the teaser for the film Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy, along with related online content, following a plea by actor Salman Khan. Khan alleged that the film violates his personality rights by portraying him in connection with the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, which remains under judicial consideration. The court directed the filmmakers to remove the content within 24 hours, with platforms like YouTube and X required to comply within the following 24 hours if the order is not followed, according to medianama.com.
The order came after Khan filed an application seeking to halt the release of the film and its promotional materials. His legal team argued that the teaser and posters feature a lookalike wearing Khan’s signature bracelet and explicitly reference the blackbuck poaching case. They also claimed the film falsely links Khan to the underworld, potentially harming his reputation and prejudicing his right to a fair trial. The court reviewed the teaser during the hearing before issuing the takedown directive, as reported by medianama.com.
This legal intervention highlights ongoing concerns about personality rights and media portrayals linked to pending criminal cases. The blackbuck poaching case has been in the courts for years, with proceedings still active in the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court. The Delhi High Court’s order aligns with judicial efforts to prevent prejudicial content that could influence public perception or judicial outcomes. Similar cases have underscored the balance between creative expression and individual rights in Indian media law, according to medianama.com.
At the time of the court order, the Kala Hiran teaser remained available on YouTube, indicating the immediate impact of the directive was yet to be fully realized. The court’s 24-hour deadline for removal places clear responsibility on both the filmmakers and digital platforms to comply promptly, setting a concrete timeline for enforcement, per medianama.com.