Delhi HC Approached As Kangana Ranaut Seeks Action Over Obscene AI-Generated Posts Online

Actor and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kangana Ranaut has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection against the circulation of allegedly obscene, pornographic and AI-generated content using her identity on social media and other online platforms. Ranaut has sought protection of her personality rights, objecting to content that allegedly uses her name, image and identity without authorisation. Her lawyer told the court that the material included sexual and pornographic graphics, fake news and AI-generated posts that falsely attributed statements to the BJP leader. The plea comes amid a growing number of cases before the Delhi High Court involving the unauthorised use of celebrities’ names, images, voices and likenesses through artificial intelligence, deepfakes and other forms of digital manipulation.

Justice Vikas Mahajan issued summons to the defendants in Ranaut’s lawsuit and indicated that an interim order would be passed in the matter. The court was also hearing a separate personality-rights lawsuit filed by Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda and said an interim order would be passed in that case as well. Ranaut’s petition seeks to prevent the circulation and misuse of content that, according to her legal team, falsely represents her or associates her identity with material she has neither created nor authorised. The case places questions surrounding personality rights, privacy, reputation and the increasingly sophisticated use of generative artificial intelligence before the court. The Delhi High Court has dealt with several similar suits this year as public figures seek judicial protection against digitally manipulated representations.

During the hearing, Ranaut’s lawyer specifically raised objections to sexual and pornographic graphic content allegedly depicting or referring to the actor-politician. The lawyer also pointed to fake news and AI-generated material that allegedly attributed statements to Ranaut that she had not made. Such content can create confusion about whether a public figure actually made a particular statement or appeared in a particular image or video. The lawyer, however, made a distinction between allegedly harmful or misleading material and satire. He told the court that memes and other objectionable satirical content also existed but said Ranaut was not seeking relief against such material at the interim stage. The distinction is significant because personality-rights proceedings can involve questions about the limits of protection where content is presented as parody, commentary or satire.

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Deverakonda’s case raised related concerns about the unauthorised exploitation of a celebrity’s identity. His senior counsel alleged that third parties had commercially exploited the actor’s personality through various means, including the sale of merchandise carrying attributes associated with him. The lawyer also referred to AI-generated social-media posts, impersonation, false endorsements and the use of foul language. The allegations illustrate the range of disputes now reaching courts as artificial intelligence makes it easier to create realistic images, videos, voices and online profiles associated with public figures. In several recent Delhi High Court cases, celebrities have sought injunctions against the creation and dissemination of AI-generated or deepfake material that uses their identity without consent.

The Delhi High Court has already granted interim protection to a number of public figures in personality and publicity-rights cases. Among those who have approached the court are actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Salman Khan, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, podcaster Raj Shamani, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and cricketer Abhishek Sharma. In July, the court also granted protection to cricketer Abhishek Sharma against the unauthorised use of his personality attributes, including AI-generated or deepfake representations and false or obscene content. The court has similarly dealt with claims involving AI-generated material, impersonation and unauthorised use of celebrity identities in cases involving other public figures.

The growing litigation reflects a wider legal challenge created by generative AI, particularly where manipulated content involves public figures and can be rapidly reproduced and distributed across multiple platforms. Delhi High Court orders in recent cases have recognised that unauthorised use of a person’s name, image, likeness or other distinctive personality attributes can raise concerns involving privacy, reputation and personality or publicity rights. In some cases, courts have directed defendants or platforms to remove specified URLs or restrain the creation and circulation of particular forms of infringing material. Ranaut’s latest petition will now be considered by the Delhi High Court as the court examines the relief sought against the allegedly obscene and AI-generated material. The court’s forthcoming interim order is expected to clarify the immediate protections, if any, that will apply while the broader personality-rights dispute continues.

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