Bollywood Actress Aishwarya Rai Moves Delhi HC Seeking Protection Of Her Personality Rights

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of her personality rights. The plea seeks to restrain individuals, websites, and online platforms from using her name, likeness, persona, and images without authorisation.

The matter came up before a bench presided over by Justice Tejas Karia. The judge observed that it would be passing orders against each of the defendants. “The prayers are quite broad, so individual orders will be passed, and where there are common issues, a separate injunction can be issued,” the bench remarked.

A detailed copy of the order will be uploaded on the court’s website. The matter is now listed to be heard on January 15, 2025.

Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, who appeared for Rai at the outset, submitted that the plaintiff is a well-known personality seeking to enforce her publicity and personality rights. Taking the court through the impugned content, he pointed to multiple instances of misuse of Rai’s name and image.

Sethi emphasised that unauthorised use extended to AI-generated content, including morphed images on YouTube and other social media platforms. According to him, such content is being monetised under the guise of her association, despite having no connection to the actress.

The actor’s counsel also flagged the circulation of completely fabricated and “unreal” intimate pictures of Rai on the internet, arguing that the defendants were using her images for commercial purposes, such as coffee mugs. Similar misuse was also pointed out with respect to wallpapers and T-shirts carrying the actress’s images being sold online without any authorisation.

Sethi drew parallels to the 2023 Anil Kapoor case, where the Delhi High Court issued an ex parte interim injunction restraining unauthorised use of Kapoor’s name, voice, image, likeness, and catchphrase “Jhakaas,” including protection against AI-driven manipulation.

He argued that Rai’s case warranted similar judicial protection given the widespread and unauthorised exploitation of her image, both in physical merchandise and digitally through AI-generated content.

During the hearing, counsel appearing for Google said, "Your lordship, please also see defendants 8 and 9. They have been impleaded through YouTube, as they operate the channels. A direction may kindly be given to provide BSI so that further action can be taken.."

The actress’s counsel, stressing the extent of misuse, told the court, “A gentleman is collecting money merely by putting my name and face. Her name and likeness is used to satisfy someone’s sexual desires. Very unfortunate.”

Concluding the hearing, Justice Tejas Karia indicated that ad-interim relief would follow against each of the defendants.

Case Title: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan v. AishwaryaWorld.com & Ors.

Hearing Date: 9 September 2025

Bench: Justice Tejas Karia