- Salman Khan has sent a legal notice to the makers of Kala Hiran.
- The actor claims the film violates his personality rights.
- His legal team says the black buck case is still pending before the Rajasthan High Court.
- The notice demands that the makers stop production and promotion of the film.
- Producer Amit Jani has called the notice an attempt at intimidation.
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has sent a legal notice to the makers of Kala Hiran, a film inspired by the 1998 black buck case, alleging a “gross violation of personality rights.”
The legal notice was issued to Kala Hiran casting director Akshay Pandey. According to the notice, the actor has sought an immediate halt to the film’s release and promotional activities.
Kala Hiran is directed by Bharat S. Shrinate and produced by Amit Jani. The production team is also known for Udaipur Files, a film based on the murder of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Kumar.
In the notice, Salman Khan’s lawyer argued that the black buck case is “presently pending consideration” before the Rajasthan High Court. The legal team described the proposed film as “defamatory in nature” and a “gross violation of personality rights.”
The notice further stated that creating the film amounts to “interference with the administration of justice and directly impinges upon our client's fundamental right to a fair trial.”
According to the legal notice, Salman Khan has “neither authorised nor consented to the use of his name, persona, or the alleged incident associated with him in the proposed film.”
The actor’s legal team has called upon the filmmakers to take immediate action. The notice demands that they:
- “Immediately cease and desist from developing, producing, publicising, or otherwise proceeding with any film, project, or content that is based on/inspired by/relates to/is identifiable with our client, including but not limited to the proposed film.”
- Tender an unconditional written apology to the actor.
The notice also states that if the filmmakers fail to comply within 24 hours of receiving it, Salman Khan “shall be constrained to initiate appropriate legal proceedings, both civil and criminal, against you and all concerned.”
Producer Amit Jani shared the legal notice on Facebook and responded publicly to the allegations.
“Salman Khan is threatening people related to the movie Kala Hiran with a legal notice. The intent of this legal notice is just intimidation so that people surrender to glamour,” Jani wrote in Hindi. He also quoted lines from legendary poet Rahat Indori’s sher, “Hai uski aadat dara raha hai.”
Recently, Jani Firefox Films unveiled the first-look poster of Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy. The poster features a man resembling Salman Khan holding a gun. The character is also shown wearing a firoza bracelet similar to the one often worn by the actor.
According to a press release from the makers, Kala Hiran promises “a gritty narrative rooted in real-world legal battles and action.” The film’s teaser is scheduled for release on June 20.
The controversy centers on the 1998 black buck hunting case. During the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain in Rajasthan, Salman Khan was accused of hunting two black bucks in Kankani village in Jodhpur district.
According to a PTI report, Salman Khan was the main accused in the case. While he was sentenced by the chief judicial magistrate’s court in Jodhpur, co-accused actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu, Neelam, and local resident Dushyant Singh were acquitted.
Twenty years later, on April 5, 2018, a Rajasthan trial court convicted Salman Khan and sentenced him to five years in prison. He was later granted bail by a Sessions Court and released from Jodhpur jail.
In 2022, the Rajasthan High Court allowed a transfer petition in the black buck poaching case, meaning all pleas related to Salman Khan and the case would be heard by the High Court.
