Delhi High Court Questions Aaradhya Bachchan's Personality Rights

The Delhi High Court has questioned the extent of personality rights for minor Aaradhya Bachchan, particularly in relation to false reports about her health. During proceedings, the judge expressed doubt regarding the existence of such rights for a child.

The suit was filed in 2023 by Abhishek Bachchan on behalf of his daughter against several YouTube channels and websites for publishing fake videos alleging she was seriously ill, hospitalized, or dead. Abhishek Bachchan is also a co-plaintiff, claiming infringement of his own personality rights. The court issued notices to several channels and websites in February 2025.

This case is one of three selected by the court to define the scope of personality rights, alongside suits by actors Janhvi Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi. The principles derived from these three cases will be applied to other pending suits.

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani expressed skepticism about the applicable legal framework. He drew a parallel to a hypothetical case involving an ordinary person, "Ashok Kumar," falsely reported to have cancer, questioning whether such fake news falls under defamation or another civil wrong, or if it constitutes an intellectual property claim.

The court seeks answers to three core questions: How far does the reputation of a family name extend across generations? Do fake news, even of a despicable nature, constitute an intellectual property violation, and if so, which type? Can the concept of defamation or injury to reputation be conflated with intellectual property rights? The answers will determine if relatives of celebrities, and individuals without commercial fame, can seek protection against false news based on personality rights.