Arjun Kapoor moves Delhi HC over AI deepfakes, unauthorised use of likeness
Synopsis
Arjun Kapoor has taken the Delhi High Court route to fight AI deepfakes, pornographic content, and unauthorised merchandise bearing his likeness — joining a rapidly growing roster of Indian celebrities invoking personality rights before the same bench. The court's caution about public figures signals the legal tightrope ahead.
Key Takeaways
Arjun Kapoor filed a plea before the Delhi High Court on 29 April seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights.
The plea alleges misuse through AI-generated deepfakes , pornographic content, morphed images, and unauthorised merchandise.
Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that not all content involving public figures can be taken down — only that which is derogatory or defamatory .
A detailed order on Kapoor's interim protection plea is yet to be passed.
The case adds to a growing list of celebrities — including Allu Arjun , Aishwarya Rai Bachchan , Gautam Gambhir , and Karan Johar — who have secured similar court protection.
Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights against the alleged misuse of his name, image, and likeness through artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, unauthorised merchandise, and pornographic material circulating online. The plea, heard on 29 April before Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, marks the latest in a growing wave of celebrity personality rights cases before the court.
What Kapoor's Plea Alleges
Senior advocate Pravin Anand, appearing for Kapoor, submitted that multiple defendants were engaged in the unauthorised use of the actor's name, photographs, likeness, and other personality attributes for commercial gain. This included the sale of merchandise and the dissemination of manipulated digital content without his consent.
The court was further informed that several online entities were allegedly circulating sexually explicit material, pornographic content, and AI-generated deepfakes involving Kapoor. Counsel argued that the misuse went far beyond humour or satire, asserting that the impugned material included morphed and fabricated visuals designed to commercially exploit and distort Kapoor's public image.
Among the specific examples cited, one piece of content allegedly depicted Kapoor's face morphed with that of an animal, while another purportedly showed him selling golgappas.
What the Court Observed
Justice Gedela struck a note of caution during the hearing, observing that in the case of public figures, not every form of content could be directed to be taken down unless it was derogatory or defamatory.
Point of View
But the real gap is legislative: India still lacks a dedicated deepfake or personality rights statute, leaving courts to craft ad hoc protections case by case. With AI tools becoming cheaper and more accessible, the volume of such cases will only grow, and a patchwork of individual injunctions is not a sustainable framework. The Delhi High Court's emerging body of rulings in this space may ultimately force Parliament's hand.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Arjun Kapoor approached the Delhi High Court?
Arjun Kapoor has filed a plea before the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights against the alleged misuse of his name, image, and likeness. The misuse reportedly includes AI-generated deepfakes, pornographic content, morphed images, and unauthorised merchandise sold online without his consent.
What did Justice Tushar Rao Gedela say about the case?
Justice Gedela observed that not every form of content involving a public figure can be ordered to be taken down — only material that is derogatory or defamatory qualifies. He stated that a detailed order on Kapoor's interim protection plea would be passed subsequently.
What is a personality rights case in the Indian legal context?
A personality rights case seeks to protect a public figure's name, image, voice, and likeness from unauthorised commercial or harmful use. Indian courts, particularly the Delhi High Court, have increasingly granted such protections to celebrities facing AI-generated impersonations and unauthorised merchandise.
Which other celebrities have secured personality rights protection from the Delhi High Court?
Several high-profile individuals have recently obtained court protection, including Gautam Gambhir, Sunil Gavaskar, Allu Arjun, Nagarjuna, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Karan Johar, singer Jubin Nautiyal, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and podcaster Raj Shamani.
What is an AI deepfake and why is it a legal concern?
An AI deepfake is a digitally manipulated image or video in which a person's face or voice is synthetically replaced or altered using artificial intelligence. It raises legal concerns because such content can be used to defame, sexually exploit, or commercially misrepresent individuals without their consent, as alleged in Kapoor's case.
