Salman Khan vs Kala Hiran: Delhi High Court seeks reply from actor on Amit Jani’s plea seeking stay on proceedings

The Delhi High Court has sought a response from Salman Khan in connection with an application filed by filmmaker Amit Jani, who has sought a stay on proceedings in the actor’s civil suit concerning the proposed film Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy.

The matter was heard before Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, with Jani’s counsel arguing that the reliefs sought by Khan in the present proceedings substantially overlap with those in an earlier suit that is already pending adjudication before the High Court.

During the hearing, Jani’s legal team contended that Khan has effectively initiated parallel litigation concerning the same subject matter.

On that basis, counsel argued that proceedings in the subsequent suit should remain stayed until the earlier matter is finally decided.

Representing Salman Khan, Senior Advocate Ravi Prakash undertook to place the actor’s formal counter-affidavit on record in response to the application.

The court also sought clarity on the precise basis of the relief being pursued by Khan.

Explaining the background, Prakash submitted that the actor had initially approached the court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights.

The proceedings resulted in interim protection being granted to Khan in December 2025.

According to Khan’s counsel, following the interim order, the filmmakers released promotional material and gave interviews to the media that allegedly drew direct parallels between the film and aspects of the actor’s life, including the widely known 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan.

Khan’s legal team argued that the alleged depiction was sufficiently identifiable with the actor’s persona and could cause significant reputational harm.

The actor subsequently sought the court’s intervention to prevent the circulation of promotional and publicity material connected to the film and to restrain its proposed release.

The dispute escalated further in July 2026, when the Delhi High Court directed the removal of the film’s initial digital teaser and certain promotional posts from social media.

The court also directed the filmmakers not to use Salman Khan’s name, likeness or identifiable characteristics without his consent.

The proceedings later turned towards the question of the film’s proposed distribution and release.