'Kaala Hiran': Salman Khan blackbuck case gets cinematic retelling
Synopsis
A new Bollywood film, 'Kaala Hiran', is set to dramatise the 1998 blackbuck poaching case involving Salman Khan and the ensuing decades-long rivalry with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi — whose gang claimed responsibility for the 2024 murder of politician Baba Siddique. The poster dropped 29 May; the teaser arrives 20 June.
Key Takeaways
The poster of 'Kaala Hiran' was unveiled on 29 May , with a teaser scheduled for 20 June .
The film covers the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Kakani village, Jodhpur , involving Salman Khan and co-stars including Saif Ali Khan , Tabu , Sonali Bendre , and Satish Shah .
It also depicts the rivalry between Salman Khan and gangster Lawrence Bishnoi , blending courtroom drama and crime thriller genres.
Shooting took place in Sambhal , Moradabad , and other cities in Uttar Pradesh .
In October 2024 , politician Baba Siddique was shot dead in Bandra, Mumbai ; the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility.
The poster of 'Kaala Hiran', an upcoming film dramatising the 1998 blackbuck poaching case involving Bollywood star Salman Khan, was unveiled on Friday, 29 May, with the makers confirming a first-look teaser release on 20 June. The film also depicts the widely reported rivalry between Salman Khan and gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, weaving courtroom drama and crime thriller elements into a single narrative.
What the Film Covers
Producer Amti Jani described the project as a comprehensive cinematic account of events stemming from the alleged hunting of a blackbuck in Kakani village, Jodhpur, in 1998. 'In 1998, in Kakani village of Jodhpur, in the case of the hunting of a black buck by Salman Khan, the drama of the courtroom, the crime, the thriller, the rivalry between Lawrence Bishnoi and Salman Khan, the whole sequence has been shot in the form of a movie,' Jani said.
The film reportedly recreates Salman Khan's arrest and subsequent legal proceedings, and features the other Bollywood figures who were present in Jodhpur at the time of the alleged incident — including Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre, and Satish Shah.
Shooting Locations and Production Details
Principal photography was carried out across multiple cities in Uttar Pradesh, including Sambhal and Moradabad. Jani noted that audiences had long awaited a feature-length cinematic treatment of the case, describing the poster reveal as a milestone for the project. The teaser is scheduled for release on 20 June.
The Bishnoi Rivalry and Its Real-World Consequences
The Bishnoi community considers the blackbuck a sacred animal, and Lawrence Bishnoi has reportedly made repeated threats against Salman Khan over the poaching conviction, which Bishnoi frames as a religious affront. According to reports, Bishnoi's gang has also targeted individuals close to the actor.
In October 2024, politician Baba Siddique — who was known to be close to Salman Khan — was shot dead near his residence in the Bandra area of Mumbai. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the killing, according to police and media reports at the time.
Background: The 1998 Blackbuck Poaching Case
The case dates to a film shoot in Rajasthan during which Salman Khan and several co-stars were accused of hunting blackbucks, a protected species under Indian wildlife law. Salman Khan was convicted by a Jodhpur court and has been embroiled in related legal proceedings for over two decades. The case became one of the most high-profile wildlife crime matters in Indian film history, and its intersection with the Bishnoi community's grievances has kept it in the public eye well beyond the courtroom.
With 'Kaala Hiran' now moving toward release, the film enters a charged environment — one where the real-life rivalry it depicts continues to have active, violent consequences.
Point of View
Lethal feud. That real-world weight gives the project unusual gravity for a Bollywood production, but it also raises questions about the line between dramatisation and exploitation of an ongoing security threat. The blackbuck case has outlasted careers, governments, and legal cycles; whether a commercial film can do justice to its full complexity — or will reduce it to spectacle — is the real test for the makers.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the film 'Kaala Hiran' about?
'Kaala Hiran' is an upcoming Indian film that dramatises the 1998 blackbuck poaching case involving Salman Khan in Jodhpur and the subsequent rivalry between Salman Khan and gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. It blends courtroom drama and crime thriller genres, and features the other Bollywood stars present during the original incident.
When will the 'Kaala Hiran' teaser be released?
The teaser, described as the 'first look', is scheduled for release on 20 June, according to producer Amti Jani. The poster was unveiled on 29 May.
Why does Lawrence Bishnoi target Salman Khan?
Lawrence Bishnoi reportedly holds Salman Khan responsible for the 1998 poaching of blackbucks, which the Bishnoi community considers a sacred animal. Bishnoi has framed the killing as a religious affront and has, according to reports, repeatedly threatened the actor and those close to him.
What happened to Baba Siddique and how does it connect to this case?
Politician Baba Siddique was shot dead near his residence in Bandra, Mumbai, in October 2024. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the killing, according to police and media reports; Siddique was reportedly close to Salman Khan.
Where was 'Kaala Hiran' filmed?
The film was shot across several cities in Uttar Pradesh, including Sambhal and Moradabad, according to producer Amti Jani.
