The Delhi High Court on Friday, 19 June adjourned the hearing on Bollywood actor Salman Khan's plea seeking to restrain the release of the film 'Kala Hiran', declining to grant any interim relief at this stage. A vacation Bench of Justice Madhu Jain directed that a complete copy of the plaint and accompanying documents be served on the respondent filmmaker, and listed the matter for arguments on 1 July.

What Salman Khan's Counsel Argued

Khan's advocate, Nizam Pasha, submitted that the film is purportedly based on the actor's life and was produced without his consent. Pressing for urgent interim relief, Pasha informed the court that the film's poster and trailer had already been released publicly, even though a formal release date for the movie had not yet been announced.

Filmmakers Push Back

Counsel for the filmmakers opposed the plea for urgent relief, contending that they had not been served the complete set of case documents. 'On Wednesday, they served me only a copy of the application, not the plaint,' the filmmakers' counsel argued in court. The defence also disclosed that the filmmakers had been receiving death threats over the project and that an FIR had already been lodged in connection with those threats.

After hearing both sides, Justice Jain directed Khan to furnish the full document set — including the plaint — to the respondents, and fixed the next hearing for 1 July. When Khan's counsel subsequently sought an earlier date, arguing that the filmmakers had already been served, Justice Jain declined, noting that the matter had already been scheduled for July.

Background: The Legal Notice and the Film

The dispute reached the Delhi High Court days after Khan's legal team issued a formal notice to the makers of 'Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy', demanding they halt the film's release and remove all promotional material, including posters and publicity content. Directed by Bharat S. Shrinet and produced by Amit Jani, the film is reportedly inspired by the blackbuck poaching case involving Salman Khan and also depicts his alleged rivalry with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The makers have described it as a blend of courtroom drama and crime thriller mounted on an international scale.

Death Threat Allegations Escalate

The controversy surrounding the film has intensified sharply in recent days. Producer Amit Jani has alleged that he has been receiving death threats ahead of the film's release. On 18 June, Jani claimed that a Pakistani terrorist threatened him with a drone and grenade attack over the film, and said he had informed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Rajasthan Police, and CRPF officials about the threat. Within 24 hours, Jani alleged he received a second death threat — this time in a complaint lodged with police in Jodhpur, where an unidentified caller, identifying himself as a Salman Khan fan, reportedly threatened to kill him within three days. The producer urged authorities to register a case and arrest the accused immediately.

With the next hearing set for 1 July, the court's decision on interim relief — and whether the film can continue its promotional run — will be closely watched by both sides.