Summary
- The makers of Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy have suffered a setback in their ongoing legal dispute with Salman Khan, after actor Sonu Mishra, who was set to portray the superstar in the film, announced his exit from the project.
- Speaking to ANI about his decision to leave the project, Mishra said he had initially joined believing the film would portray Khan in a supportive light, but changed his position after learning more about its intended direction.
- He said he had been cast to portray Khan, but once he realised the film was made to tarnish the reputation of a senior actor and of Rajasthan’s culture, his own ethics did not allow him to be part of what he described as propaganda against him.
The makers of Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy have suffered a setback in their ongoing legal dispute with Salman Khan, after actor Sonu Mishra, who was set to portray the superstar in the film, announced his exit from the project.
Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy is an upcoming crime thriller and courtroom drama inspired by the controversial 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan involving Khan. The film’s plot centres on the incident in which a protected Indian blackbuck, an animal considered sacred by the Bishnoi community, was hunted, leading to a long running legal battle that continues to this day.
Khan has filed a lawsuit against the makers in the Delhi High Court, seeking to halt the film’s production, promotion and release, citing what his legal team describes as a gross violation of his personality rights. According to Khan, the project unlawfully uses his public image and could damage his reputation while potentially prejudicing ongoing judicial proceedings related to the case. His plea states that the film’s posters, teaser and promotional material clearly identify him, and his legal team has alleged that the makers used a lookalike wearing his signature bracelet.
Speaking to ANI about his decision to leave the project, Mishra said he had initially joined believing the film would portray Khan in a supportive light, but changed his position after learning more about its intended direction. He said he had been cast to portray Khan, but once he realised the film was made to tarnish the reputation of a senior actor and of Rajasthan’s culture, his own ethics did not allow him to be part of what he described as propaganda against him. He said his exit followed creative differences with the makers.
Mishra also addressed speculation around his decision, stating clearly that he had not received any threats from the Bishnoi community, noting that it is his own community. He said he believes films should instead highlight the community’s efforts toward social welfare, adding that he would have happily taken part in a project built around that theme.
The case at the heart of the film dates back to 1998, when Khan was accused of hunting two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur during the filming of Hum Saath-Saath Hain. His co-stars at the time, including Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu, were also accused but were later acquitted. In April 2018, a trial court in Jodhpur convicted Khan and sentenced him to five years in prison, though he was later granted bail and appealed the verdict. In 2022, the Rajasthan High Court took over the case and consolidated all related legal proceedings under its jurisdiction, where the matter, including Khan’s appeal against his conviction, remains pending.
