‘Salman Khan isn’t god. He isn’t my godfather. He can’t stop me’: ‘Kala Hiran’ director defends ‘blue bracelet’ claims amid the Delhi High Court suit |
The controversy surrounding ‘Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy’ continues to intensify daily. The film, inspired by events linked to the 1998 blackbuck poaching casehas already sparked debate due to its teaser and the striking resemblance between one of its lead characters and Salman Khan. Amid the growing scrutiny, filmmaker Bharat S Shrinet has addressed the criticism and defended his creative choices.The discussion gained momentum after veteran actor Govind Namdev publicly distanced himself from the project, claiming he was unaware of the film’s actual subject matter. Bharat, however, has rejected that narrative, maintaining that the actor was fully informed about the project while it was being made.
Director defends the bracelet reference
One of the most talked-about elements from the teaser of ‘Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy’ is the appearance of actor Kashif Iqbal Khan as Ayan Khana character many viewers believe resembles Salman Khan. Adding to the comparisons is the turquoise bracelet often associated with the Bollywood superstar.According to News18, addressing the issue, Bharat dismissed suggestions that the accessory belongs exclusively to Salman. “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!”The director insisted that audiences are reading too much into the visual similarities and argued that the character should not automatically be linked to the actor.Beyond the bracelet, many social media users have pointed to Kashif Iqbal Khan’s overall appearance, claiming his look appears intentionally modelled on Salman. Bharat, however, maintained that no special effort was made to create that resemblance.Drawing a comparison with Abhijit Panse’s ‘Thackeray’, starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, he explained that unlike biographical films where actors undergo elaborate transformations, no such process was used in his project. “Nawazuddin Siddiqui had once played the role of Balasaheb Thackeray in a film [‘Thackeray’]. He was made to look like him through prosthetics and make-up. But in our film, we haven’t made use of any prosthetics. Our actor naturally looks like Salman.”The filmmaker further stated that there was little he could do about an actor’s natural appearance. “I can’t change how he looks. I couldn’t have used prosthetics on him to make him look like someone that he’s not. Kya kar sakte hai? Agar kisi ko pareshaani ho rahi hai isse, toh main kya bolu?”
‘Kala Hiran’ legal battle reaches Delhi High Court
The matter has now moved beyond public debate. Salman Khan has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the release and promotion of ‘Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy’. According to reports, the actor has argued through his legal team that the project contains references that infringe upon his personality rights.The legal move came after promotional material for the film allegedly featured elements that Salman believes create a direct association with him despite the makers not using his real name.Bharat did not hold back while reacting to the legal proceedings. The filmmaker stressed that he would not be intimidated by the star’s stature in the industry. “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.”While he said he respects differing opinions about cinema, Bharat admitted that the legal notice has left him disappointed because of the years of effort invested in bringing the project to life.
Bharat S Shrinate calls for dialogue instead of restrictions
The director emphasised that films are meant to encourage discussion and debate, and therefore criticism is something he is willing to accept. However, he believes attempts to halt a project before audiences have seen it undermine the work of an entire team. “I always welcome healthy discussions. Everyone has a viewpoint. Cinema is meant to spark conversations.”He further added, “But ultimately, it’s the audience who’ll decide the impact and value of the film. Our film has been made with the collective effort of so many people. And now, suddenly, someone has sent us a legal notice. They’re trying to stall our film. Bura toh lagta hai. A lot of planning and research goes into writing and making a film. And we’ve been planning to make this film for years.”Ending his remarks, Bharat urged Salman Khan to view the film before arriving at any conclusions about its content or intent. According to the director, immediate legal action without watching the completed project overlooks the effort that has gone into its development.“Ek jhatke mein legal notice bhejna matlab saari mehnat ko rok dena. He’s doing it becase he feels the film is about him. He should go and watch the film first and then decide.”As the dispute continues to unfold, ‘Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy’ remains at the centre of a growing legal and public debate, with both sides firmly standing by their positions.
