Noida, July 1: The Delhi High Court held a hearing on Wednesday regarding actor Salman Khan’s petition to halt the promotion and release of the film “Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy.” Prior to the hearing, the film’s producer, Amit Jani, opposed Khan’s petition, making serious allegations and presenting legal and factual arguments in his defense.
In a conversation with a news agency, Jani claimed that during the previous hearing, Khan’s lawyer sought an interim stay on the film. However, the court insisted on hearing the other party first. He stated that he did not receive a timely copy of the petition. According to him, the hearing was scheduled for the 19th, but he only received the petition via email two days prior, leaving him insufficient time to prepare.
Jani further alleged that the WhatsApp number from which the petition was sent also contacted him, claiming to be a person named Shehzad Bhatti residing in Pakistan. He accused this individual of pressuring him to negotiate with Salman Khan and arrange a meeting.
According to Jani, he was also offered compensation for his investment in the film, and upon refusal, he received threats of bomb or drone attacks against him and his family. However, these allegations have not been independently verified.
Responding to Khan’s petition, Jani expressed confidence that the court would base its decision solely on law and facts, stating that an individual’s stardom or popularity does not matter in court. He noted that in previous high-profile cases, the court has made decisions based purely on legal facts.
Jani dismissed allegations of exploiting Salman Khan’s name for commercial gain, asserting that the film’s main theme revolves around the Bishnoi community’s two-decade struggle, wildlife conservation, dedication to nature, and the community’s faith regarding blackbucks. He emphasized that Khan is not the hero of their film, which aims to present a social and historical issue rather than capitalize on an actor’s popularity.
On the issue of personality rights, Jani clarified that the actor Kashif Iqbal Khan, who plays the character Ayan Khan, was not made to resemble Salman Khan through any prosthetics, special makeup, or techniques. He argued that any perceived similarity between the two actors could be a natural resemblance and not a violation of personality rights.
Jani also stated that the authority to review and certify film content lies with the Central Board of Film Certification. He argued that if courts begin reviewing a film’s content before its release, it would constitute a form of “judicial censorship,” potentially impacting the freedom of film production and expression.
The producer claimed to be receiving threatening calls from individuals named Shehzad Bhatti, Rohit Godara, and D-Company. Nevertheless, he stated that his team is preparing to release the film worldwide on 7,000 to 8,000 screens as planned.
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