The Delhi High Court has taken action after Bollywood actor R. Madhavan filed a petition over unauthorised deepfake trailers and AI-generated content using his face and name without consent. The videos, shared widely on social media, show fake trailers for films such as Shaitan Chapter 2 and Kesari 3, although these films do not exist.
Madhavan told the court that the content had gained millions of views and was harming his reputation. He said viewers were being misled into thinking he had acted in films he had no connection with.
In response, the High Court issued an interim injunction to safeguard the actor’s personality rights. Judges ordered websites and platforms hosting the deepfake videos to take them down and remove other unauthorised material using his image or name. The court also directed platforms to act against online merchandise created without his permission.
Legal experts say the case highlights the growing problem of AI misuse. Advanced technology now allows realistic but fake videos that can damage the reputation of public figures and ordinary individuals alike. Sharing such content without consent may violate privacy and publicity rights.
This is part of a wider trend in India, where several celebrities have approached courts over the unauthorised use of their images in AI content. Public figures are increasingly concerned about the speed at which deepfake technology can spread misleading material online.
Lawyers believe that as awareness of digital rights grows, more cases could reach the courts. Celebrities are seeking stronger protection against unauthorised AI-generated content to safeguard their public image and personal rights.