The blackbuck case has become a thorn in Salman Khan's side that he can neither shake off nor ignore. He was already caught up in the legal tangles of this case and dealing with threats from Lawrence Bishnoi, and now a new film has multiplied his troubles. The actor has taken the legal route against 'Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy', a film built around the very same case. He has approached the Delhi High Court seeking to block the film's release and promotion. As a result, everyone now wants to know exactly why Bhaijaan is so upset with this film and what the real story behind it is.
The film is based on the 1998 blackbuck poaching episode. Alongside that, it prominently depicts the enmity between Salman Khan and gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Salman argues that the film's poster damages his image. Since the matter is still pending in court, he contends that the film violates his 'personality rights'. On the other side, filmmaker Amit Jani is in no mood to give in. He has torn up Salman's legal notice and remains determined to make the film despite the threats.
When the film's first poster surfaced on social media in May, people were stunned at the sight of it, because the actor seen in it looked exactly like Salman Khan. Not only that, the character was holding a rifle, and Salman's famous turquoise-coloured bracelet was glinting on his wrist as well. The makers had also announced that they would unveil the film's first teaser on 20 June.
The entire storyline is woven around Salman Khan's old and controversial blackbuck poaching case. The makers have given it the shape of a courtroom drama and crime thriller. What stands out is that the film plans to portray the ongoing rivalry between Salman Khan and the jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi on the big screen in a dramatic style, a subject that is generating plenty of buzz right now.
The thread of this whole controversy goes back to October 1998, when Salman Khan was in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, for the shooting of the film 'Hum Saath-Saath Hain'. He was accused of poaching blackbucks there. Because the Bishnoi community reveres the blackbuck as a deity and worships it, they took the matter all the way to court.
At that time, the names of several big stars such as Saif Ali Khan, Tabu and Sonali Bendre also came up in the blackbuck case, but they were all acquitted. In 2018, a Jodhpur court found Salman Khan guilty and sentenced him to five years in prison. However, he was granted bail immediately and filed an appeal challenging the verdict, which remains pending in the Rajasthan High Court even today.
Salman Khan now argues that when the matter is still being heard in court, how can a film be made on it. He believes that the film's arrival could adversely affect his legal battle and also harm his image. Salman has clearly told the court that the film violates his 'personality rights', and therefore its production and release should be stopped at once.
The film's producer, Amit Jani, is equally unwilling to take a step back. He has shared a video on social media in which he is seen tearing up the legal notice sent by Salman Khan in front of the camera. Amit Jani claims that ever since the film's poster appeared, he has been receiving continuous death threats, but he is not one to be intimidated by anyone.
Taking a direct dig at Salman, Amit Jani said these legal notices are being sent solely to frighten and pressure him. He wrote in plain words that intimidating others has become an old habit for some people, but he will not bow down so easily. All eyes are now on what stance the Delhi High Court takes on this matter and whether the film will manage to release or not.
