The Delhi High Court has ordered that Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy has to be removed from the teaser because it makes reference to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. In court it was ruled that the teaser violated the actor's publicity rights and personality rights in using a lookalike character that appeared to have his signature style and references to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case.
Justice Jyoti Singh ordered the filmmakers and uploaders to drop the teaser from all online platforms within 24 hours. And the court also instructed the digital platforms, including YouTube and X (formerly Twitter), to remove the teaser within 24 hours if the original uploaders didn’t comply. The court also criticized the producers, commenting that they seemed to think they were “above the law.”
The controversy revolves around a character in the teaser who wears a blue bracelet very similar to Salman Khan’s signature accessory and carries a rifle, which many viewers saw as a direct reference to the actor and the widely publicized blackbuck hunting case. That could cause people to think the film is linked to or endorsed by the actor, the court said.
Salman Khan’s supporters celebrated Salman Khan’s victory with loud and proud posts, memes, and messages in the days after the court order, and Salman Khan’s fans flooded social media with posts, memes, and messages of thanks. Many saw the ruling as a victory for law enforcement for the protection of the rights of public figures to be free from commercial exploitation.
The filmmakers, however, defended their project, saying this is not a biographical film: Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy is a fictional narrative based on public events and they did not intend to depict Salman Khan.
The case has reignited discussions about publicity rights and creative freedom in Indian cinema. Legal experts believe the ruling could set an important precedent for filmmakers who use characters resembling real-life celebrities without permission. As digital platforms continue to expand the reach of promotional content, courts are increasingly balancing artistic freedom with an individual's right to protect their identity and reputation.
The Delhi High Court’s decision serves to remind us that fictional storytelling must be careful of creating false depictions of real personalities and not to create false associations with real personalities, since those depictions can affect the celebrity’s image or commercial rights.
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