In an ongoing legal dispute surrounding the film titled 'Kaala Teetar', the Delhi High Court has directed actor Salman Khan to submit his response within four weeks to a plea moved by the film's producer. The filmmaker approached the bench seeking directions to recall the suit filed by Khan that aimed to stall the movie's rollout. A central contention raised by the production side asserts that the Delhi court lacks the necessary territorial jurisdiction to adjudicate the lawsuit initiated by the actor. Taking note of these arguments, the high court asked the actor to clarify his position, scheduling the next hearing in the case for December 16.
The Core Dispute Triggered by the Teaser
The conflict initially erupted following the public unveiling of the promotional poster and teaser for 'Kaala Teetar'. Salman Khan strongly objected to the visuals, claiming that the production depicted a central protagonist who bore an unmistakable, striking resemblance to his real-life persona. A key point of contention was the prominent display of a turquoise bracelet on the character's wrist, an accessory widely recognized as the actor's personal signature. Khan maintained that the production deliberately mirrored his public identity, exploiting his distinct personality and style without obtaining prior consent or authorization.
Personality Rights and the 1998 Incident Reference
In his petition before the court, Khan pointed out that the promotional teaser featured scenes referencing the 1998 blackbuck poaching episode, an event that has historically remained attached to his public narrative. The actor argued that aspects of his personal legal struggles were deliberately woven into the film's plotline and leveraged to generate publicity for the project. According to his submission, utilizing sensitive chapters of his private life for commercial promotion tarnishes his public reputation and constitutes an infringement of his recognized personality rights.
Director Bharat S. Shrinet Defends the Project
Rebutting the allegations, director Bharat S. Shrinet maintained that the cinematic venture does not revolve around Salman Khan in any manner. The filmmaker stated that the narrative is entirely fictional, with the protagonist being a distinct fictional persona named 'Ayaan Khan'. Addressing the dispute over the accessory, Shrinet argued that such bracelets are not exclusive to Khan and are worn by many individuals. Furthermore, he clarified that the lead actor did not undergo any prosthetic makeup or physical modifications to emulate Khan's appearance. Earlier in the proceedings, on July 27, the Delhi High Court had issued an interim order directing the removal of online links to the teaser and related promotional material after Khan raised urgent objections.
