Recently, several celebrities have been heading to the Delhi High Court (HC), raising public curiosity. Bollywood stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, and Karan Johar have previously filed petitions. From Tollywood, veteran actor Mohan Babu also approached the court. Now, Tollywood star Nagarjuna has joined the list, sparking discussion on why celebrities are turning to the Delhi HC.
Nagarjuna’s legal team, led by advocate Anand, filed a petition claiming that online photos and videos of the actor were being morphed using AI, damaging his reputation. The petition stated that some content was being uploaded on social media and YouTube with obscene intent, and monetised using his personal hashtags without permission. Nagarjuna requested the court to prevent unauthorised use of his images and videos. Justice Tejas Karia responded by issuing protective orders in his favour.
This move follows a trend of celebrities safeguarding their personal content against AI misuse. Amitabh Bachchan, who gained massive popularity through films and shows like Kaun Banega Crorepati, had approached the Delhi High Court in 2022. He sought to prevent AI-generated misuse of his voice and photos. The court granted him protection, instructing telecom providers and the Ministry of Electronics and IT not to allow unauthorised use of his content.
Similarly, last year, Mohan Babu approached the Delhi High Court to stop AI-based morphing of his photos and misuse of his personal information. The court ruled in his favour, offering him protection against such violations.
Alongside them, this year, Bollywood stars Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, and Karan Johar also filed petitions, claiming unauthorised use of their photos and videos, including printing on T-shirts and use in obscene AI content. The court has consistently ruled to protect these celebrities’ personal images without permission.
The recent spate of petitions highlights the growing concern over AI-generated content. Celebrities are taking proactive legal steps to safeguard their personal rights and prevent misuse, setting a precedent for digital privacy protection.
