Salman Khan's petition against 'Kaala Hiran' release up for hearing today; producer vows film will release as planned

Salman Khan's petition seeking a stay on the promotion and release of his film ‘Kaala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy’ is scheduled to come up for hearing before the Delhi High Court on Wednesday. Ahead of the proceedings, producer Amit Jani has opposed the actor's petition, making several serious allegations and backing his stance with legal and factual arguments.

Salman Khan's lawyer sought interim stay, says producer

In conversation with news agency IANS, producer Amit Jani alleged that Salman’s lawyer had sought an interim stay on the film during the previous hearing, but the court chose to hear his side before ruling. He also claimed he wasn't given a copy of the petition in time, the hearing was fixed for the 19th, yet the petition reached him via email just two days before, leaving him little time to prepare his response. Jani went on to make a more serious allegation, saying he received a call from someone named Shahzad Bhatti, using the very WhatsApp number from which the petition had been sent.

He claimed this individual is based in Pakistan and had pressured him to settle the matter and set up a meeting with Salman.

Salman Khan's fame won't matter in court, says producer

Jani further claimed that he was offered compensation for his stake in the film, and that a refusal would result in threats of bomb or drone attacks against him and his family, allegations that remain independently unverified at this stage. Addressing Khan's petition, Jani expressed confidence that the court's decision would rest purely on law and facts, adding that a person's fame or popularity holds no weight in judicial proceedings, pointing to past instances where courts have ruled on high-profile matters strictly on legal merit.

Salman Khan's name not being exploited, says producer

Amit also rejected claims that the film commercially exploits Khan's name, explaining that its central focus lies elsewhere, on the Bishnoi community's nearly two-decade struggle, its commitment to wildlife conservation, reverence for nature, and deep faith in the blackbuck. He clarified that Salman does not feature as the film's protagonist, stressing that the project isn't meant to cash in on an actor's fame but rather to spotlight a socially and historically significant subject.

Salman Khan's resemblance to actor "purely coincidental"

He also addressed the personality rights controversy, clarifying that no prosthetics, special makeup, or technology was used to make Kashif Iqbal Khan, who plays the character Ayan Khan in the film, resemble Salman Khan. He maintained that any perceived similarity between the two actors' appearances is purely coincidental and cannot be treated as a violation of personality rights.

Salman Khan row: producer says release remains on track

Jani also pointed out that it is the

Central Board of Film Certification

, not the courts, that holds the authority to examine and certify a film's content, arguing that judicial scrutiny of content before release would amount to "judicial censorship" with damaging implications for filmmaking and free expression. He additionally alleged receiving threatening calls made in the names of Shahzad Bhatti, Rohit Godara, and D-Company. Even so, he said his team was moving ahead with plans to release the film on schedule across 7,000 to 8,000 screens worldwide.