In 2026, Salman Khan found himself involved in a court case that is not like any other he has been in. In this case, the matter being fought is not a movie in which he is involved but one in which he does not want to be involved in any way.
This particular case involves the movie called 'Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy.' The teaser of this movie that had come out in July shows a superstar named Ayan Khan who stands accused of hunting the blackbuck.
This, indeed, is what the Delhi High Court said. In an interim order, Justice Jyoti Singh directed the teaser to be taken down from all websites within 24 hours, instructing X and YouTube to ensure the compliance of the filmmakers, and she made her views very clear when she noted that "this must stop" and added that this content may do irreparable harm to the reputation of Khan.
However, the filmmakers have put up a spirited defense. In fact, the producers of the film, headed by producer Amit Jani of Jani FireFox Films, have contested the court order and have approached the Supreme Court.
They argue that the movie is not a biopic, does not mention Khan by name anywhere, and does not make any use of AI or deepfake technology to portray him.
Jani has argued in the Supreme Court that the right of personality cannot be used to censor a movie and, in effect, will stifle journalism, history, and even art based on past events.
However, up until the last hearing held on September 10, the dispute still continues, with it appearing in some senses as if it cannot be solved anytime soon – the filmmakers admit that Kala Hiran is not yet ready for release.
The film has not been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification, and when the court pushed for the timeline of its release, the only thing that could be done by the defence was to ask for additional guidance. However, Khan's lawyer pointed out that the online streaming platforms do not require any kind of censor certification.
The court has ordered the filmmakers to submit their answer within two weeks, with Khan required to file his reply before the next hearing.
Thus, the dispute continues to exist as something between a dismissed and an already decided case, especially given that there is another Supreme Court appeal that runs parallel to the existing lawsuit. It can be considered quite a unique example of how personality rights can be used in India and how well they go together with freedom of art/journalism.
In addition to the courtroom battle being waged, Khan is also stepping back into something more familiar. According to reports, the shoot of Bigg Boss 20 is slated to begin somewhere around September 21, which marks the beginning of a career in this program dating back to 2010, one of the longest-running and most consistent programs on Indian television.
Bigg Boss, in its own way, has been a lifeline for Khan, an opportunity that is completely independent of his performance at the box office and ensures that he keeps in touch with his fans through the television medium, even when his films perform poorly. With a successful season 19 behind him, the franchise has some momentum going into this season.
Contrary to what had been expected from him before, Khan's movie lineup for 2026 is noticeably slim. This is evidenced by the fact that Battle of Galwan is the sole film release of Khan's from 2026.
This is quite different from an artist who has always managed at least two major film releases in a calendar year. Consequently, Khan's Battle of Galwan is now laden with high expectations, especially considering his recent performances.
In his most recent films – Bharat (2019) and Tiger 3 (2023) excepted – Khan has performed poorly both commercially and critically, prompting a need to establish his ability to draw crowds in the opening weekend.
Khan's pay rate for Battle of Galwan has reportedly dropped compared to his pay for Sikandar, a decision that may either be seen as a move to reflect the smaller ceiling of the film or as a sign of Khan's readiness to take chances with his movies.
Regardless, the fact remains that there are no other theatrical releases that might cushion him in case this film does not perform well.
Apart from being embroiled in court and professional affairs, 2026 has seen its share of intimate personal moments for Khan too. A Mother’s Day post with some very rare pictures of him along with his mom Salma Khan and stepmom Helen gained a lot of attention.
Apart from this, he continues to be subject to the sort of scrutiny that he has been since ages, responding with aggression to one photographer and taking legal action against a Panvel neighbour who posted some defamatory social media content.
In sum, these elements create a scenario where the actor is coping with fame on several platforms at once: defending his reputation in court, staying relevant on television, and risking his reputation on the big screen with just one movie.
