Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon has formally approached the Delhi High Court seeking an interim and permanent legal shield protecting her personality and publicity rights against unauthorized digital exploitation, including AI-generated deepfakes and digital impersonation.
During the initial hearing, a single-judge Bench led by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav directed Sanon’s legal counsel, veteran advocate Pravin Anand, to submit a thorough compilation of relevant judicial precedents, research papers, and legal materials outlining the precise boundaries of celebrity personality rights.
Expanding Scope of Identity Protection: Name, Voice, and Likeness
Appearing for the actor, advocate Pravin Anand argued that an individual’s personality rights extend far beyond simple name recognition, encompassing core attributes such as face, voice, images, photographs, videos, and distinct physical traits. The lawsuit underscores a surging corporate and digital menace: unauthorized commercial exploitation, fake brand endorsements, and malicious synthetic media generated via artificial intelligence without explicit consent.
“Can you give me some research paper? Please give a compilation. Give me judgments and your understanding regarding personality rights,” — Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav
The Bench indicated that rather than viewing the petition through a narrow, case-specific lens, the judiciary intends to formulate a broader, more coherent understanding of how existing statutory frameworks apply to synthetic media. A critical question raised during the proceedings focused on whether such expansive personality and publicity rights claims fall strictly within the domain of the High Court’s Intellectual Property Division (IPD). While Anand maintained that jurisdictional hurdles do not apply to Sanon’s plea, the court stressed the necessity of a structured precedent compilation before issuing a comprehensive order.
The Rising Epidemic of AI Impersonation in Indian Cinema
Kriti Sanon’s legal action arrives amid an unprecedented wave of digital infringement litigations flooding the Delhi High Court. Over recent months, the judiciary has witnessed an exponential spike in public figures seeking emergency injunctions against unauthorized AI cloning, voice modulation, and deepfake pornography.
A roster of high-profile personalities—including actors Kangana Ranaut, Anil Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor, and sports icons like Gautam Gambhir and Sunil Gavaskar—have successfully secured protective judicial orders.
The legal consensus around personality rights in India has traditionally balanced common law privacy torts with intellectual property principles. However, the advent of generative AI tools capable of cloning voices and mapping facial expressions within seconds has rendered traditional privacy laws inadequate. Celebrities are increasingly vulnerable to fraudulent financial scams, misleading product endorsements, and obscene digital alterations that can irreparably damage hard-earned public trust.
What Happens Next?
With the matter listed for further detailed hearings on October 29, the Delhi High Court’s forthcoming directions are expected to serve as a landmark benchmark for digital governance in India. As generative AI tools become more democratized, the judicial synthesis of personality rights, right to privacy, and freedom of expression will define the future parameters of digital accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why did Kriti Sanon approach the Delhi High Court?
Kriti Sanon moved the High Court to secure legal protection for her personality and publicity rights against unauthorized commercial use, AI-generated content, and deepfake digital impersonation.
What specific legal direction did Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav issue?
The Bench directed Sanon’s counsel, Pravin Anand, to submit a comprehensive compilation of judicial precedents, research papers, and legal frameworks governing personality rights.
What attributes do celebrity personality rights protect?
Personality rights safeguard distinct personal identifiers, including an individual’s name, voice, face, likeness, photographs, videos, and unique performance styles.
Which judicial division is reviewing these cases?
The Delhi High Court is examining whether personality rights lawsuits and digital infringement claims fall directly within the purview of its specialized Intellectual Property Division (IPD).
When is the next hearing scheduled for Kriti Sanon’s lawsuit?
The matter has been listed for further hearing and comprehensive evaluation on October 29.
Manish Kumar began his professional journey in digital marketing and performance marketing, and currently works as a Digital Marketing Excutive and SEO expert. With over 3 years of professional experience, he handles both strategy and execution. Currently, he manages digital marketing and performance marketing at ‘Shabd Sanchi’ (shabdsanchi.com).
