Delhi High Court orders takedown of 'Kala Hiran' teaser, grants interim relief to Salman Khan

Court rules proposed film’s teaser prima facie violates Salman Khan’s personality rights; directs removal of promotional content within 24 hours

Published: July 29, 2026 12:35 pm IST | By: Soibam Rocky Singh

The Delhi High Court has ordered the makers of the proposed film Kala Hiran – The Battle For Legacy to immediately remove its teaser and all related promotional content, ruling that the material prima facie violates Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s personality rights and causes irreparable harm to his reputation.

Justice Jyoti Singh passed the interim order on July 27 while hearing an application filed by Mr. Khan in his pending personality rights suit.

Background of the Case

The application stemmed from the release of the film’s teaser on July 17, 2026, and its subsequent circulation through:

• Press releases
• Promotional videos
• Social media posts
• YouTube videos
• Podcasts
• Other online and offline content

Mr. Khan alleged that the promotional campaign commercially exploited his personality without his consent.

Key Allegations in the Plea

According to the plea:

• The two-minute teaser unmistakably portrays Mr. Khan through a fictional character named ‘Ayan Khan’
• It incorporates references to his films Dabangg and Sikandar
• It includes details linked to the pending blackbuck poaching case
• The teaser is set entirely within a courtroom, depicting a dramatised trial of the actor — described as ‘Superstar’ — for the alleged killing of a blackbuck
• It showcases examination of witnesses, forensic conclusions, and threats or inducements to witnesses

“The impugned teaser is deliberately constructed as an indictment as it expressly asserts that the incident ‘was not an accident’ but the indulgence of a superstar who crushed underfoot the law and sentiments of Bishnoi community,” the plea stated.

Mr. Khan argued that the teaser directly impinges on his rights, as the alleged incidents are the subject of pending proceedings before the Supreme Court and the Rajasthan High Court.

Court’s Observations and Order

Finding that Mr. Khan had established a prima facie case, the Court observed:

• Mr. Khan has a fundamental right to protect his name, likeness, and all other attributes of his personality
• No third party has the right to use these attributes without his consent or authorisation

“Plaintiff [Mr. Khan] has every right to complain that the content of the impugned teaser and/or any other post/video, which uses his personality attributes, must be taken down from public space,” Justice Singh said.

The judge added that any content causing harm and damage to Mr. Khan’s “formidable and enviable goodwill and reputation must not continue on any platform as by the minute, it is causing irreparable harm.”

Directives Issued

The Court restrained the makers of the proposed film from:

• Exhibiting, streaming, uploading, hosting, publicising, or otherwise disseminating the teaser or accompanying posts across any platform
• This includes social media, websites, OTT services, television, and print media

The Court directed the defendants to remove the content within 24 hours. If they fail to comply, platforms including X, Meta, and Google will be required to disable access to the identified URLs upon being informed by Mr. Khan.

Published - July 29, 2026 12:35 pm IST