Delhi high court orders removal of Kala Hiran teaser, says Salman Khan’s reputation must be protected

The Delhi High Court has ruled against the teaser of Kala Hiran

The Delhi High Court has ruled against the teaser of Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy, directing that it be taken down within 24 hours. The film is widely believed to draw from Salman Khan’s 1998 blackbuck poaching case, and the court found that letting the teaser stay online could hurt the actor’s public image. Justice Jyoti Singh made it clear that if the makers did not comply, platforms including X and YouTube would be ordered to remove the relevant links themselves.

Khan had initially approached the court to protect his personality rights and won that protection early on. He then pushed further, asking for the film to be banned outright, insisting it mirrors his still-unresolved poaching case far too closely. His plea claimed the film features a character who looks just like him, wearing a bracelet he’s often seen with, and includes content he calls defamatory, including suggestions of underworld ties. He also flagged concerns that the film could interfere with his right to a fair trial, given that the original case is still active in both the Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court.

Adding to his argument, Khan’s petition referenced an incident involving producer Amit Jani, who reportedly ripped up a legal notice sent by Khan’s lawyers during a public interview, then claimed on social media that he was being threatened by the actor and underworld figures. Justice Singh didn’t hold back on this point, saying the teaser was actively harming Khan’s reputation with each passing day it remained accessible, and reminded the court that a person’s reputation, built over years, can unravel almost instantly.

Lawyers for the producer pushed back, saying the teaser never actually mentions Khan by name, does not rely on AI-generated visuals or deepfakes, and only reflects publicly known events, not anything exclusive to him. Khan’s side rejected that argument, maintaining that the resemblance was too obvious to ignore. They also noted he has already been acquitted in three of the four criminal cases linked to the incident, with his sentence in the last one currently on hold.

After watching the teaser during the hearing, Justice Singh observed that portraying an ongoing legal matter this way could border on contempt of court. The judge also addressed the responsibilities of digital platforms, noting that companies like Meta and Google can’t fully sidestep accountability, even without a pre-publication order. Khan has now been directed to share a list of specific links he wants removed.