Filmmakers tell Delhi High Court that 'Kala Hiran' is not ready for release

The producers of the film Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legal told the Delhi High Court on Thursday that the movie is not in a releasable state because it has not yet received certification from the censor board. Justice Jyoti Singh heard the statement during a proceeding regarding an application filed by actor Salman Khan, who is seeking to restrain the release of the film. The court has ordered the producer, Amit Jani, to file a response within two weeks and to inform the court of the proposed release date by September 14. The court further stipulated that the film cannot be released until that time. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on September 30.

Salman Khan's lawsuit focuses on the protection of his personality rights. His legal team argues that the film's promotional materials and content use his name, likeness, and distinctive attributes, such as his bracelet and ear studs, for unauthorized commercial gain. The suit further alleges that the film portrays him as guilty of offences that are still sub judice and falsely links him to grave crimes, including the corruption of medical experts and ties to international terrorist organizations. Khan's counsel stated that a dramatized trial in the film infringes upon his fundamental right to a fair trial under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

In response, the filmmakers have clarified that the movie is not a biopic. They argue that Khan cannot invoke personality rights to erase public events concerning the blackbuck controversy. Earlier in July, the high court ordered the removal of a teaser and related posts from online platforms, noting that the makers cannot exploit the actor's attributes for commercial gain or disseminate content that injures his reputation.