"I had been kept in the dark and used."
The controversy surrounding Kala Hiran, a film inspired by the 1998 blackbuck poaching case linked to Salman Khan, has taken a fresh turn.
Producer Amit Jani has issued a legal notice to veteran actor Govind Namdev after the latter publicly distanced himself from the project.
Namdev had claimed that the film was very different from what he had originally agreed to be a part of.
Days after he said he felt “used” by the makers after watching the teaser, Jani responded with serious allegations of his own.
He alleged that Namdev was fully aware of the project’s nature and had even agreed to be part of a proposed sequel.
Announcing the development on X, Jani wrote that a formal legal notice had been served to the actor.
“Govind Namdev has been issued a legal notice.
“He must publicly apologise within seven days and pay Rs 50 lakh in damages to the production house, failing which legal action will be initiated.”
The producer further alleged that Namdev had not only signed on for Kala Hiran but had also consented to appear in its sequel.
This directly contradicted Namdev’s own public account of how he came to be involved with the project in the first place.
The film has drawn considerable attention for its apparent parallels with the high-profile blackbuck poaching case involving Salman Khan.
While the actor’s name does not appear in the film, the teaser introduces a character named Ayaan Khan, whom many viewers believe resembles the Bollywood star.
In an interview, Namdev explained why he had chosen to speak out publicly against the project:
“As soon as I watched the trailer, I was shaken.
“I immediately realised that the project was completely different from what I had shot for.
“We were never told that a character resembling Salman Khan would be created and portrayed in this manner.”
“The moment I saw the trailer, I felt I had been kept in the dark and used.”
“There is a world of difference between what I was told and what has actually been made.”
Namdev also claimed that the film had originally been introduced to him under an entirely different title altogether.
“I was told we were making a film called Sambhal.
“At that time, I had absolutely no idea that the story would later take a completely different direction.
“I was informed that there was a long courtroom sequence and that was all I had to do.
“It was also mentioned that nothing new was being added from our side and that we were merely presenting what had happened in court.
“I felt there was nothing wrong in depicting facts already on record, which is why I agreed to be part of it.”
The dispute between Namdev and the producer adds yet another layer of complexity to a project that has already attracted significant legal attention.
Salman Khan himself has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the release of Kala Hiran.
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