Kala Hiran Teaser Row: Producer Appeals to Supreme Court

Film producer Amit Jani has escalated a legal battle to the Supreme Court of India following a directive from the Delhi High Court. The High Court had previously ordered the removal of the teaser and promotional materials for Jani's film, 'Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy.'

The film's inspiration is stated to be the prominent 1998 blackbuck poaching case involving actor Salman Khan. The High Court's decision stemmed from Khan's plea alleging a violation of his personality rights, citing unmistakable references in the teaser, including a lookalike wearing Khan's signature blue bracelet and a poster with a rifle.

Jani contends that the High Court's order represents unfair censorship and stifles his right to freedom of speech, asserting that public record legal cases should not be monopolized. Amidst this dispute, the producer has also reported receiving violent death threats, allegedly from organized criminal groups, demanding the abandonment of the film project.

Earlier, the High Court had granted Khan's request to protect his personality rights, leading to the takedown of various links featuring the film's teaser and interviews given by producer Amit Jani. The court had expressed concern over the film's apparent references to the actor, indicating that an individual's reputation warrants protection.