Delhi High Court Halts Release of 'Kala Hiran' Pending Censor Board Clearance in Salman Khan Lawsuit

In a significant legal development for the Indian film industry, the Delhi High Court on Thursday, September 10, 2026, put a temporary hold on the release of the proposed movie titled 'Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy'. Hearing a plea filed by Bollywood actor Salman Khan seeking to restrain the film's production and distribution, Justice Jyoti Singh recorded a formal statement from producer Amit Jani's legal team confirming that the project is currently in an un-releasable state as it has not yet received clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The court directed the producer to file a detailed written response within two weeks and scheduled the next hearing for September 30, 2026. The bench explicitly ordered that no theatrical or OTT streaming release take place until the matter is heard again. Khan had filed a civil lawsuit alleging a severe violation of his personality rights and defamation, asserting that the filmmakers unlawfully exploited his public image, personal identity, and distinctive attributes—including employing a lookalike wearing his signature bracelet—in connection with his 1998 blackbuck poaching legal proceedings. The interim ruling provides immediate relief to the actor while reinforcing personality rights protections within Indian cinema. Legal experts note that the court's stance underscores the necessity for film producers to respect celebrity rights and obtain official approvals before publicizing or releasing projects inspired by high-profile public figures.