Delhi High Court Protects BJP MP Ravi Kishan’s Personality Rights

The Delhi High Court has protected the personality rights of actor and BJP MP Ravi Kishan. The High Court has granted an ex parte ad-interim injunction in favour of Kishan, restraining multiple entities from unauthorised commercial exploitation of his name, image, voice and other personality attributes, including through Artificial Intelligence (AI), deepfake technology and other digital tools.

A single-judge bench of Justice Jyoti Singh passed the interim order in a commercial suit filed by Ravi Kishan against several defendants, including social media accounts, websites, domain name registrars, intermediaries and unidentified "John Doe" entities allegedly involved in the unauthorised use of his persona.

Kishan alleged widespread misuse of the actor-politician's personality and publicity rights through AI-generated content, vulgar and obscene videos, fabricated statements circulated on social media, unauthorised commercial exploitation of his identity, and pornographic content falsely associated with him.

High court has held that the actor-politician is entitled to complain against any content which violates his personality rights and/or is vulgar or obscene or has sexually explicit or pornographic content and tarnishes his image, goodwill and reputation in the public and amongst family and friends and seek protection as well as action against the wrongdoers.

Justice Singh noted that from the start of his journey in 1992 in Hindi film Pitambar to now, Kishan has garnered enviable reputation and goodwill through his acting skills coupled with his contributions to the society as a politician. 

"Plaintiff has played significant and memorable roles in many commercially successful films such as Tere Naam, Phir Hera Pheri, Son of Sardaar-2 and most recently, Laapata Ladies, for which he was bestowed the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award and in which his acting was appreciated by one and all. Plaintiff is also the recipient of Bhojpuri Film Awards for 5 consecutive years as also the IIFA Award for Laapata Ladies. Plaintiff has also made significant contributions in the Bhojpuri Film Industry and has left an unforgettable impression for his debut film Saiyaan Hamar which was a phenomenal commercial success. Plaintiff has starred in over 750 films spanning across genres, languages and audiences. He has to his credit many unforgettable roles in mythological dramas as also television reality shows such as Jhalak Dikhla Ja, where his dancing skills came to light. Plaintiff’s role in OTT release Mamla Legal Hai has been widely acclaimed across all sections of the society, " the order notes.

"Even in the field of the politics, Plaintiff has made significant contributions towards empowerment of youth and worked towards infrastructure development as also development and reforms in education, cinema and health sectors and was awarded the Sansad Ratna Award for exemplary performance in parliamentary duties," Justice Singh has noted.

Court has also directed that it shall be open to the actor to bring this to the notice of Meta Platforms, Inc., Defendant No.31/Google LLC  andX Corp., as the case may be and the said Defendants shall initiate steps to take down the URLs concerning them, within 72 hours from the date of receipt of intimation in this regard.  

Recently, the high court had denied similar relief to BJP MP Raghav Chaddha and rejected the contention that his case involved personality rights, holding that the dispute primarily concerned allegedly defamatory content. Justice Subramonium Prasad made the observations while deciding Chadha's interim application in a suit seeking removal of allegedly defamatory content portraying him as having "sold himself for money" after his political decisions.

It said that politicians and public figures must tolerate political humour and satire, observing that criticism expressed through satirical content does not automatically amount to defamation. While directing the removal of five "obscene and explicit" social media posts targeting BJP MP Raghav Chadha, the Court clarified that most of the impugned content constituted protected political satire and did not warrant judicial interference.

Kishan's case adds to a growing list of high profile personalities approaching the Delhi High Court to safeguard their personality and publicity rights in the age of artificial intelligence.

In recent months, figures such as former India cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar, actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, actors Nagarjuna, Kajol, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, filmmaker Karan Johar and podcaster Raj Shamani have also secured judicial protection against unauthorised use of their identity, likeness or AI generated imitations.

Case Title: RAVINDRA SHUKLA ALIAS RAVI KISHAN vs. ASHOK KUMAR (JOHN DOE) & ORS.

Bench: Justice Jyoti Singh

Order Date: July 2, 2026