Delhi High Court Issues Notices in Actor Personality Rights Suits

The Delhi High Court has issued summons and notices in two separate legal cases filed by Bollywood actors Kangana Ranaut and Vijay Deverakonda, aimed at protecting their personality rights. The court has requested responses from the defendants, including social media intermediaries and content publishers.

Vijay Deverakonda's lawsuit addresses various forms of online misuse, such as impersonation accounts, fake endorsements, defamatory and abusive material including AI-generated content and deepfakes, as well as unauthorized merchandise. He seeks the removal of such content and products from platforms like Meta, X, Google, Flipkart, and Amazon.

Kangana Ranaut's suit concerns the circulation of fake news and offensive AI-generated content involving her likeness. The court has, however, questioned the nature of some flagged material, suggesting it was satirical. Her counsel indicated they are not seeking the removal of satirical content at this stage.

No interim orders have been granted yet in either case. The court's approach to distinguishing satire from other alleged infringements of personality rights will be a significant aspect of the upcoming hearings, scheduled for February 2027. These cases follow a pattern of Delhi High Court rulings protecting celebrities against unauthorized use of their image and likeness, particularly concerning AI and deepfake technologies.