In a landmark ruling, the Delhi High Court has extended robust protection to Bollywood icon Kajol’s personality rights, declaring unauthorized use of her name, photos, and videos a punishable offense. This decision comes hot on the heels of a similar victory for her husband, Ajay Devgn, underscoring a growing judicial crackdown on digital exploitation of celebrities.
The court issued a sweeping order mandating the immediate removal of all obscene and objectionable content featuring Kajol from online platforms. It explicitly banned any misuse of her likeness through AI-generated deepfakes or other manipulative technologies. Platforms and entities were sternly warned against leveraging her image for commercial products or promotions without consent.
This move addresses the rampant proliferation of deepfake videos and AI-altered images on social media, often used to peddle products illicitly or populate adult sites. The misuse not only invades personal privacy but also inflicts reputational damage, as seen in prior cases involving actors like Vivek Oberoi, where courts affirmed that technological tampering equates to criminal harm.
Kajol’s case is part of a broader trend in Indian cinema. From Hindi stars like Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to South Indian luminaries such as Pawan Kalyan, Nagarjuna, and Junior NTR, numerous celebrities have successfully invoked personality rights protections. Ajay Devgn’s own 2024 petition resulted in orders to scrub deepfake content and prevent future violations.
Legal experts hail this as a pivotal step in adapting copyright and privacy laws to the AI era. As deepfake technology becomes more sophisticated, courts are setting precedents that balance innovation with individual rights. For Kajol, whose illustrious career spans decades of blockbuster hits, this verdict reaffirms her control over her public persona in an increasingly digital world.
The ruling sends a clear message to tech abusers: celebrity images are not fair game. With enforcement mechanisms in place, Bollywood’s fight against digital piracy gains momentum, promising safer online spaces for stars and fans alike.