Delhi High Court to Protect Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s Personality and Publicity Rights Amid AI Misuse
Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection against the unauthorized commercial use of her name, images, and AI-generated content. The actor’s plea highlights growing concerns over digital misuse of celebrity likenesses, especially with the rise of AI-generated media.
Court Hints at Strict Action
On Tuesday, Justice Tejas Karia indicated that the court would issue orders safeguarding Rai’s personality and publicity rights. The bench noted that online platforms and individuals morphing the actor’s images or using her persona without consent would be restrained.
“We’ll pass an order against each of the defendants because the prayers are broad. But we will grant injunctions separately.” – Justice Tejas Karia
The court also suggested further directions to take down URLs infringing upon the actor’s personality rights, showing a firm commitment to protecting her image, voice, and other distinctive attributes.
Allegations Against Defendants
Represented by Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi and advocates Pravin Anand and Dhruv Anand, Aishwarya Rai alleged that her images and AI-generated likeness were being exploited commercially and for obscene content. Sethi submitted that fabricated intimate photographs and morphed videos of the actor were being circulated online to satisfy someone’s sexual desires.
“There can be no right in their favour to use her images, likeness, or persona.” – Sandeep Sethi
He highlighted the sale of merchandise such as wallpapers and T-shirts featuring Rai’s pictures and YouTube channels posting morphed or AI-generated visuals, stressing that the content was “completely unreal” and monetized without her consent.
Aishwarya’s legal team emphasized that she had no prior knowledge or engagement with these entities, which demonstrated a fraudulent intent to exploit her persona for commercial gain.
Precedents in Protecting Celebrity Rights
This is not the first time Bollywood actors have sought protection from the Delhi High Court for misuse of their personality rights:
- In May 2024, the court safeguarded Jackie Shroff from unauthorized merchandise and distorted videos using his likeness.
- In 2023, actor Anil Kapoor had his name, voice, and signature catchphrase “jhakaas” protected from commercial exploitation.
- In 2022, the court stepped in to restrain abuse of Amitabh Bachchan's persona and image.
These precedents highlight the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the publicity and personality rights of celebrities in the digital age.
Next Steps in Aishwarya Rai’s Case
The matter is listed for further proceedings before the joint registrar on November 7, 2025, and a substantive hearing is scheduled for January 15, 2026. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has signaled that ad-interim orders cautioning the defendants may be issued soon to prevent further misuse.
As media created using AI continues to gain prominence, instances such as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's highlight the need to safeguard personal rights online, particularly for individuals of public interest whose image holds high commercial value.
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