Will the Delhi HC Protect Aishwarya Rai's Personality Rights?
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Synopsis
The Delhi High Court is poised to safeguard Aishwarya Rai's personality rights, amidst alarming instances of unauthorized commercial exploitation of her image and persona. This case highlights the urgent need for legal protections against misuse in the digital age.
Key Takeaways
- The Delhi High Court is likely to issue an interim order for Aishwarya Rai's personality rights.
- Unauthorized use of her image is prevalent across multiple platforms.
- Legal protections for public figures are increasingly necessary.
- This case may influence future rulings on personality rights in India.
- Digital misuse of celebrity images poses significant challenges.
New Delhi, Sep 9 (NationPress) The Delhi High Court has indicated that it will likely issue an interim order aimed at safeguarding the personality/publicity rights of acclaimed Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
A single-judge Bench led by Justice Tejas Karia was addressing a lawsuit lodged by Aishwarya Rai, seeking protection for her name, image, likeness, persona, and other unique aspects of her identity from commercial exploitation by various parties, including digital platforms.
Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing the actress, contended that her image, name, and other aspects of her persona are being utilized without her consent—not just for merchandising but also for inappropriate and pornographic purposes.
"This is appalling. Her altered images are being disseminated. It’s entirely AI-generated. The defendant is profiting by using my client's face and name," Sethi argued.
He highlighted a company called Aishwarya Nation Wealth, which had wrongfully used her image on its letterhead, falsely claiming her as its chairperson.
He also pointed out websites that are distributing wallpapers and photographs of Aishwarya Rai, alongside another defendant selling T-shirts emblazoned with her images.
Following these arguments, Justice Karia stated that the Delhi High Court is likely to issue an ad-interim injunction against the involved parties.
A more detailed ruling is expected to be published on the official website of the Delhi High Court.
The next hearing is set for January 15, 2026.
Earlier in May, the Delhi High Court granted an ad-interim injunction in favor of Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff, preventing various entities from infringing upon his personality rights.
The court determined that the sale of autographed images of Jackie Shroff prima facie violated his personality rights and ordered the defendant e-commerce site to cease selling such items.
It further concluded that selling wallpapers constituted a prima facie infringement of the plaintiff's personality rights.
Point of View
This case emphasizes the urgent need for robust legal frameworks to protect the rights of individuals against unauthorized exploitation, particularly in an age where digital misuse is rampant. The judiciary's proactive stance could inspire similar actions across the media landscape, reinforcing the essential principle of respect for personal identity.
NationPress
09/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What are personality rights?
Personality rights refer to the legal rights that protect an individual's name, image, likeness, and other attributes from unauthorized commercial use.
Why is Aishwarya Rai suing?
Aishwarya Rai is suing to prevent the unauthorized use of her name and image in commercial ventures, including inappropriate contexts.
What could the court's ruling mean for celebrities?
The court's ruling could establish important legal precedents regarding the protection of personality rights for celebrities in India.
