NEW DELHI — In a major step to protect her identity in the age of artificial intelligence, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has approached the Delhi High Court to safeguard her “personality rights.” The move comes as a growing number of public figures are taking legal action to combat the commercial exploitation and misuse of their likeness.
Represented by senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, Rai’s legal team presented evidence of her image and persona being used without consent for various purposes, including merchandise sales and the creation of “morphed pornographic images.” During the hearing, Sethi showed the court screenshots from YouTube as proof, stating, “These are never images belonging to Aishwarya Rai. Neither has she authorized such images. All AI generated. Some intimate photographs which are completely unreal. Her name and likeness is used to satisfy someone’s sexual desires. Very unfortunate.”
The lawsuit highlights the increasing threat posed by AI technology, which can replicate a person’s image and likeness with startling accuracy for both commercial and malicious purposes. Rai’s counsel argued that the actress’s “personality rights” were being violated, as her image and persona were being used for “commercial and nefarious purposes” without her consent.
The court, presided over by Justice Tejas Kataria, indicated its intention to issue injunctions and has targeted 151 URLs for a takedown. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 15, 2026.
Understanding Personality Rights
This legal battle brings to the forefront the concept of “personality rights,” which is crucial in an era where digital exploitation is rampant. As explained by a legal expert, personality rights have two main facets:
- Publicity Rights: This is the right of an individual, especially a celebrity, to control the commercial use of their name, image, and likeness. It prevents others from using their persona for profit without permission.
- Right to Privacy: This is the fundamental right to be left alone and protects an individual from having their private life or image publicized without their consent.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s stance is in line with a growing trend among Indian celebrities to take legal action to protect their digital identity. This includes actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Jackie Shroff, and Anil Kapoor, who have previously sought court orders to prevent the misuse of their names, images, and voices.