Delhi High Court Protects Personality Rights of Actor R Madhavan

While protecting the personality rights of Bollywood actor R Madhavan, the Delhi High Court on Monday, December 22, 2025, restrained multiple websites and online platforms from unauthorised commercial use of his name and images.

The order was passed by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, who directed the issuance of an injunction against Defendants 1, 3 and 4 with respect to the sale of merchandise, and against Defendant 2 on grounds of obscenity.

The Court further prohibited several defendants from exploiting Madhavan’s personality traits through the use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology, and ordered the removal of certain obscene content circulating on the internet.

Appearing for the actor, Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar submitted that one of the defendants had created and circulated a fake trailer of a purported film titled Kesari 3, falsely projecting it as an upcoming release featuring Madhavan, using AI-generated and deepfake content.

She informed the Court that the actor had first approached social media platforms seeking removal of the infringing material before instituting the present suit.

The instant plea adds to a wave of similar petitions filed by public personalities to restrain unauthorised online monetisation of their likeness, voice and image.

In recent months, actors Hrithik Roshan, Nagarjuna, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, as well as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Sudhir Chaudhary, Abhishek Bachchan and Karan Johar, have approached the Delhi High Court over misuse of their personality rights.

Case Title: Ranganathan Madhavan v. G Filmz Studioz & Ors.

Bench:  Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora

Hearing Date: 22 December 2025