Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Gets Court Relief Over AI Misuse And Fake Images
Court protects Aishwarya Rai Bachchan from AI misuse and fake content.
In a landmark ruling, the Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in a case addressing the unauthorized use of her name, image, and persona across digital platforms and commercial products. The case, heard by Justice Tejas Karia, targets misuse through artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological tools, with further proceedings scheduled for January 15, 2026.
The court issued directives to defendant platforms, including e-commerce websites and Google LLC, to remove and block URLs identified in the petition within 72 hours. Additionally, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications were instructed to issue orders to disable these URLs. Justice Karia emphasized that unauthorized use of a celebrity’s identity could cause commercial harm and infringe on their right to dignity, stating, “The misuse of the Plaintiff’s name, image, likeness, and other elements of the Plaintiff’s persona clearly constitutes infringement.”
Evidence of Exploitation
Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Aishwarya, presented evidence of widespread misuse, including unauthorized merchandise like mugs, T-shirts, and drinkware bearing her name and image. He highlighted fraudulent websites falsely posing as her official platforms, as well as AI-generated and morphed images, including obscene content, circulated online. Sethi also exposed a company, Aishwarya Nation Wealth, which falsely listed Aishwarya as its Chairperson, describing the act as fraudulent.
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The court recognized Aishwarya’s stature in the Indian entertainment industry, noting her significant goodwill as a brand ambassador. It ruled that the unauthorized use of her persona could mislead the public into perceiving her endorsement, causing financial detriment and harming her reputation.
Broader Implications
The case follows similar legal actions by other celebrities, including Aishwarya’s husband, Abhishek Bachchan, who filed a suit against Bollywood Tee Shop for selling unauthorized merchandise. Represented by Ameet Naik and Pravin Anand, Abhishek sought to block websites misusing his image and warned of potential fraud through fake online identities. Other stars, such as Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff, have also pursued legal protection for their personality rights.
Advocate Mamta Rani, appearing for Google, noted that specific URLs must be provided for content takedowns. Justice Karia advised that Aishwarya could use the Blocking and Screening Instructions (BSI) process or submit specific URLs, with injunctions to be issued individually if necessary.
A Step Forward
Ameet Nayak, commenting on the case, praised the Delhi High Court’s proactive stance, referencing prior landmark rulings for celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor. “Taking down the infringing URLs is the right step,” he said, emphasizing the need to protect public figures in the era of evolving digital media. As technology continues to pose new challenges, this ruling marks a significant victory for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and sets a precedent for safeguarding personality rights.
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