Actor Salman Khan has sent a legal notice to the makers of Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy, a film widely perceived to draw inspiration from the actor’s 1998 blackbuck poaching case, a controversy that has remained in the spotlight over the years and resurfaced recently amid threats linked to the Bishnoi community.

The actor has sought a halt to the film’s release and demanded the immediate removal of its posters and promotional material. According to reports, the notice warns of further legal action if the demands are not complied with. The film is directed by Bharat S Shrinate and produced by Amit Jani. The makers unveiled the film’s first-look poster earlier this week.

On Tuesday, producer Amit Jani, reacting to the legal notice, maintained, “This is not a Salman Khan biopic. The film is based on a larger story involving the Bishnoi community, their struggle, and their deep connection with wildlife... I have not shown Salman Khan in a negative light, nor have I glorified Lawrence Bishnoi. The film presents what is already available in the public domain. Only the poster has been released. The teaser is yet to come. Sending a legal notice at this stage, without any discussion, was unnecessary,” he told India Today.

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Salman Khan’s legal team has sent a notice to the makers of a proposed film titled Kala Hiran, stating that the project could damage his reputation and interfere with the ongoing case before the Rajasthan High Court.

The notice states that Salman has never authorised the project and has no connection with those involved in making it: “Your actions falsely suggest a nexus or association with our client, when in fact, there exists none.”

The notice also mentions that the proposed film is defamatory because it allegedly portrays the actor in a negative light while the case is still pending before the Rajasthan High Court. It further states that these actions may amount to an offence under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and that Salman reserves the right to initiate civil and criminal proceedings against those involved. The notice, addressed to casting director Akshay Pandey, demands that all work on the film be stopped immediately. It also seeks an unconditional written apology from those involved.

The film’s producer, Amit Jani, posted on social media that people associated with the Kala Hiran movie are being intimidated with the legal notice issued by Salman’s team, while the actor’s legal team refused to comment on the notice.

The notice states, “To our client’s shock and dismay, it has come to his attention that you are developing a cinematographic work, tentatively titled Kala Hiran, purportedly inspired by or based on the so-called ‘black buck incident’, associated with our client. It is understood that you have been approaching actors for acting in the proposed film while representing that its storyline is inspired by the said case, and that you have circulated materials pertaining to the film, including but not limited to the synopsis, character sketches, etc.”

Another issue raised in the notice concerns personality rights. The legal team argues that even if Salman’s name is not used directly, any character or storyline that points to him could amount to a violation of his rights.

The notice states, “The proposed film including its synopsis and character sketches, is clearly identifiable and referable to our client and events associated with our client. Any such depiction, whether direct or indirect of our client’s persona, identity, and/or events allegedly connected to our client, without his authorization or consent would amount to a violation of our client’s personality rights, right to privacy and right to publicity.”

Excerpts from Salman’s legal notice to the makers of Kala Hiran further reads, “The proposed film is defamatory in nature. The proposed film contains and is intended to convey false, misleading and derogatory imputations concerning our client, including insinuations of culpability in relation to the said case, which as mentioned hereinabove, remains sub-judice... You have deliberately sensationalized the said case, and it is evident that the same is an attempt to stir up controversy and make headlines to grab the attention of the general public, at the cost of our client’s goodwill and reputation. Our client further states that reputation and goodwill are inseparable elements of an actor and play a critical role in the life and business.”