Delhi High Court Bars Use of Aishwarya Rai’s Name, Image, and Voice Without Consent
Introduction
The Delhi High Court has issued a significant ruling safeguarding the personality and publicity rights of actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, restraining multiple entities from using her name, image, and voice without prior consent. The judgment reinforces the legal protections available to celebrities against unauthorized commercial exploitation of their identity.
Background of the Case
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan filed a petition before the Delhi High Court, alleging that several individuals and organizations were illegally using her name, voice, and videos for commercial purposes. The unauthorized usage also included morphed images created using artificial intelligence, some of which were circulated in a pornographic context, thereby causing severe reputational and personal harm.
She argued that such actions infringed upon her publicity rights, privacy, and dignity, and sought judicial intervention.
The Court’s Observations
Justice Tejas Karia delivered a 16-page order, emphasizing that unauthorized use of a celebrity’s persona not only results in commercial detriment but also violates the right to live with dignity.
The court noted two key facets of violation:
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Commercial Exploitation – Unauthorized monetization of an individual’s identity without consent.
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Right to Privacy & Dignity – Misuse of one’s personality attributes leading to reputational harm and privacy breaches.
The bench stressed that courts cannot turn a blind eye to such exploitation and must actively protect aggrieved parties.
Directions Issued by the Court
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Several entities were directed to remove infringing URLs within 72 hours, which included aishwaryaworld.com and apkpure.com.
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Action was ordered against websites selling products such as t-shirts, mugs, and posters using Aishwarya Rai’s name and image.
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Organizations based in Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai promoting businesses under her identity were restrained.
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Janitor AI, a chatbot impersonating the actor, was also flagged for illegal impersonation.
The court fixed January 15, 2026, as the next date of hearing for compliance and further proceedings.
Precedents and Wider Implications
This ruling aligns with recent judicial efforts to curb unauthorized commercial exploitation of celebrities’ identity rights.
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In 2022, the Delhi High Court restrained misuse of Amitabh Bachchan’s name, image, and voice.
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In 2023, the court safeguarded Anil Kapoor’s persona, including his iconic “jhakaas” catchphrase.
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In 2024, Jackie Shroff was granted protection against unauthorized merchandise sales and manipulated videos.
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A day prior to this ruling, the same bench also indicated that it would issue a similar order to protect Abhishek Bachchan’s personality rights.
These precedents collectively signal a growing recognition of celebrity rights in India, ensuring legal protection against both traditional misuse and modern digital threats like AI-generated deepfakes.
Conclusion
The Delhi High Court’s order in Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s case is another step towards strengthening the legal framework for personality and publicity rights in India. It highlights the judiciary’s proactive approach in addressing modern challenges posed by technology, AI, and digital impersonation.
By balancing commercial interests, individual dignity, and privacy, the ruling sends a strong message: celebrity identities cannot be exploited without consent, and the law will actively safeguard them.
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