The makers of Kala Hiran: Battle of Legacy have pushed back against claims that the film is linked to Salman Khan’s life or his blackbuck case. Director Bharat S Shrinate has said the film should be judged only after people watch it, amid a reported legal notice sent by Salman Khan’s team.
The dispute began after the film’s first-look posters appeared online. Several social media users compared the lead character’s appearance with Salman Khan, with particular focus on the bracelet worn by the character. The bracelet is often associated with Salman’s public image, which led to speculation that the film may have been inspired by the actor’s widely discussed blackbuck case.
Producer Amit Jani and director Bharat S Shrinate have maintained that the comparisons are misplaced. They have said the film is not based on Salman Khan’s life.
Director rejects bracelet comparison
In an interview with News18, Shrinate addressed the bracelet debate directly. He said the accessory cannot be treated as something only one person can wear.
“The bracelet isn’t a patented accessory. If Salman feels that only he can wear it, he should get it patented. That bracelet shouldn’t be made available anywhere else in the world. I completely disagree with the narrative that this film or this character is based on Salman. Our character isn’t Salman Khan. This is just a film!” he said.
Shrinate also said that the actor in the film naturally resembles Salman Khan and that the makers did not use prosthetics to create that look. He cited the example of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s portrayal of Balasaheb Thackeray in Thackeray, where prosthetics and make-up were used to match a real-life personality.
“But in our film, we haven’t made use of any prosthetics. Our actor naturally looks like Salman,” Shrinate said. He added that he could not change the actor’s natural appearance or use prosthetics to make him look like someone else.
Legal notice has upset the makers
The director also spoke about the reported legal notice and said attempts to stop the film had disappointed the team. He said many people had worked on the project and that the film had been planned for years.
“Salman Khan isn’t God. He isn’t my godfather. He can’t stop me. Neither can he destroy me and my career nor make me and my career,” Shrinate said.
He added that the audience would ultimately decide the film’s value and impact. According to him, sending a legal notice at this stage affects the effort that has gone into writing and making the film.
Shrinate also said that Salman Khan should watch the film before forming an opinion about it. “He’s doing it because he feels the film is about him. He should go and watch the film first and then decide,” the director said.
Film remains under scrutiny
For now, Kala Hiran: Battle of Legacy remains in the middle of a public and legal debate. The makers are denying that the story is based on Salman Khan, while the reported legal notice suggests the actor’s team has concerns over alleged similarities.
The discussion has so far centred on the film’s lead character, the bracelet seen in the posters, and the public association of Salman Khan with the blackbuck case. The makers have said those links are being assumed from the outside and are not part of their stated intent.
No further details from the film’s side have been shared in the source beyond the director’s response to the controversy and the reported legal notice.
Source: Bollywood Hungama.