Arjun Kapoor has moved the Delhi High Court seeking protection of personality rights. The actor alleges unauthorised use of name, image and likeness through AI-generated content, deepfakes and explicit material online.
The plea asks the court to curb such misuse and safeguard identity-based rights.
The case was heard on 29 April by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela. Advocate Pravin Anand appeared for Arjun Kapoor. The counsel detailed how Kapoor’s photos and videos were allegedly adapted without consent. These appeared on online platforms, manipulated clips and even merchandise carrying altered visuals.
Arjun Kapoor personality rights case in Delhi High Court over AI-generated content
According to the submissions, some disputed posts involve morphed images that place Arjun Kapoor in explicit scenarios. Anand argued that the visuals use artificial intelligence tools. The lawyer stressed that such items are not harmless jokes. Instead, they allegedly twist Kapoor’s public identity in objectionable ways.
The advocate stated that common users might think the disputed clips are genuine. That risk, Anand suggested, could damage reputation and privacy. The court was told that these outputs go beyond fan edits. They allegedly commercialise and sexualise Arjun Kapoor’s likeness without permission across digital spaces and on products.
Delhi High Court deepfakes hearing and wider personality rights concerns for Arjun Kapoor
Anand emphasised the emotional impact of such depictions. Referring to visuals that placed Arjun Kapoor in strange or vulgar contexts, the lawyer submitted, “Nobody would like that. Not even a common man.” The remark underscored concerns about dignity when AI tools generate misleading or explicit content.
Justice Gedela, while hearing the plea, commented on limits of regulating content around public figures. The judge observed, “Common man doesn’t come to court for personality rights. When a person is in public glare, lot of things happen. We can understand if things are disparaging or defamatory. But everything cannot come under that. Otherwise the judgment in DM entertainment will be rendered redundant.” The court noted that only material crossing into defamatory or derogatory territory can usually face restriction.
The judge signalled that a detailed order on interim relief would follow later. The court will consider how existing personality rights jurisprudence, including DM Entertainment, applies to AI-generated and deepfake outputs. Any temporary directions will need to balance Arjun Kapoor’s rights with broader concerns about speech.
Arjun Kapoor’s move joins a series of similar personality rights suits in Indian courts. Previous orders have granted protection to Allu Arjun, Mohanlal, Aniruddhacharya, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi, Anil Kapoor, Karan Johar, Jubin Nautiyal, Pawan Kalyan, Sunil Gavaskar, Kajol, R Madhavan and Nagarjuna. Actor Salman Khan has also filed a comparable case, highlighting continuing legal battles over identity misuse and deepfakes.