Delhi High Court Orders Takedown of 'Kala Hiran' Teaser in Salman Khan Personality Rights Case

The Delhi High Court has ordered the removal of the teaser for the film 'Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy' and associated online content. The directive came after actor Salman Khan filed a plea alleging that the film infringes upon his personality rights by depicting him in relation to the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, which is still under judicial review.

Justice Jyoti Singh mandated that filmmakers must take down the identified content within 24 hours. Should they fail to comply, online platforms such as X and YouTube are required to remove the material within the subsequent 24 hours. As of reporting, the teaser remained accessible on YouTube.

Khan contends the film harms his reputation and could prejudice his right to a fair trial. His legal team argued that the teaser and posters clearly identify him, feature a lookalike wearing his signature bracelet, and reference the blackbuck case. Khan also claims the film falsely links him to the underworld.

The filmmakers' counsel denied any infringement, stating the teaser does not name Khan or use AI or deepfake technology. They argued that restricting such portrayals could impact future films based on real events. The case brings to light broader questions about the balance between artistic freedom and the unauthorized use of a public figure's identity in the absence of specific personality rights legislation.

The court expressed criticism regarding producer Amit Jani's conduct, with Justice Singh observing, "Your client seems to think he's above the law." The judge added that "Every minute that this is in the public domain, it is harming the reputation of the plaintiff," and questioned the responsibility of online platforms in hosting such content.