The makers of the feature film Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy informed the Delhi High Court on Thursday that the movie is not ready for public release, stating that it has not yet received certification from the Central Board of Film Certification. The submission was made before Justice Jyoti Singh during the hearing of an application filed by Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who is seeking an injunction to stop the production and distribution of the project.
Responding to the update, the court instructed the legal representatives of producer Amit Jani to submit a formal written response to Khan's petition within two weeks. Justice Jyoti Singh placed the producer's oral statement on record and scheduled the next formal hearing for September 30, while directing the filmmaker to explicitly disclose the proposed theatrical release date on September 14 and refrain from releasing the movie in the interim.
Censor Board Status and Interim Release Restraint
During the courtroom proceedings, legal counsel representing producer Amit Jani emphasized that the contentious film remains in an uncertified state. The defense submitted that the footage has not yet been formally submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification for review, adding that even an official promotional trailer has not been released to the public. The defense maintained that the lack of regulatory clearance prevents any immediate commercial roll-out.
Advocates representing Salman Khan countered these assurances by pointing out that promotional announcements by the producers had repeatedly cited September 2026 as the intended theatrical window. Senior advocate Ravi Prakash, appearing on behalf of Khan, argued that any sudden or unauthorized release would inflict irreversible harm on the actor's reputation and personal standing. Khan's legal team also highlighted concerns regarding direct-to-digital releases, noting that over-the-top streaming platforms operate outside the traditional censor board certification framework required for theatrical releases.
Personality Rights Allegations and Distorted Narratives
The legal battle forms a critical component of a broader civil lawsuit initiated by Khan to enforce his personality rights. In his court filings, the 59-year-old actor accused the filmmakers of engaging in deliberate, unauthorized commercial exploitation of his identity. Khan's petition highlights that the central character in the promotional poster displays an uncanny physical resemblance to him, including specific, instantly recognizable accessories such as his signature bracelet and ear studs.
the actor raised severe objections to the visual framing of the promotional material, which depicts the lead character holding a firearm. Khan's legal team noted that although the actor was formally acquitted of offences under the Arms Act by a court in Rajasthan, the film's poster spreads a false narrative that directly contradicts official legal records. The petition asserts that by staging a dramatised trial and presenting fictionalised testimony, the project attempts to generate sensationalized headlines at the expense of Khan's goodwill, amounting to an unfair trial by media that interferes with the administration of justice.
Defense Counter-Arguments and Supreme Court Appeal
In defense of the film, producer Amit Jani argued that Kala Hiran is not a biopic of Salman Khan. The defense contended that individual public figures cannot exercise personality rights to erase historical events, judicial proceedings, or matters of public record surrounding the 1998 blackbuck poaching controversy. In a rejoinder, Khan clarified that he is not seeking a monopoly over historical events or public discourse, but rather protesting the unauthorized commercialization of his distinct personal attributes to attract commercial viewership.
Dissatisfied with earlier High Court directions, producer Amit Jani filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of India. The petition argues that prior judicial restraints amount to unjustified censorship that unduly curtails fundamental rights to freedom of expression. In his appeal, Jani asserted that the High Court issued interim orders without offering his legal team an adequate opportunity to present a complete defense. The producer also claimed to have received severe threats from organized criminal syndicates demanding his immediate withdrawal from the film project.
Precedent Orders and Digital Takedown Mandates
The current proceedings follow a series of strong interim rulings issued by the Delhi High Court in favor of the actor. In July 2026, Justice Jyoti Singh passed an order directing the immediate removal of the film's promotional teaser and related online posts within 24 hours. Expressing strong displeasure over the producer's conduct, the court observed that digital platforms exacerbate reputational damage due to the rapid speed, wide reach, and permanent nature of online distribution.
To enforce compliance, the High Court directed major technology platforms, including X, Meta Platforms, and Google, to directly take down specific URLs if the filmmakers failed to remove the content within the stipulated timeframe. This followed a foundational interim order granted on December 11, 2025, which restrained commercial entities from unauthorized usage of Khan's name, likeness, and image on merchandise and digital platforms.
Forthcoming Milestones and Unresolved Matters
The immediate focus in the dispute now shifts to September 14, when producer Amit Jani must formally present the court with the precise prospective timeline for the film's certification and release. Justice Jyoti Singh reaffirmed that no public screening or promotional distribution may occur prior to that presentation.
Following the submission of the producer's written reply within two weeks, Khan's legal team will file a final rejoinder ahead of the next substantive hearing on September 30. Until the High Court evaluates the completed legal pleadings, the film remains legally locked from both theatrical screens and digital platforms.
