Kriti Sanon asks Delhi High Court to protect her identity
Kriti Sanon has moved the Delhi High Court seeking protection of her personality and publicity rights. The actor wants safeguards against what her plea describes as the unauthorised use of her name, image, likeness and other elements of her identity.
The petition also covers AI-generated content and digital impersonation. In court, the matter came up before a single-judge Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, who asked Kriti’s counsel to place relevant judgments, research papers and other material on record.
The court indicated that it would pass a comprehensive order after examining the material submitted by her legal team. The case has now been listed for a further hearing on October 29.
Why the court is looking at research first
Personality and publicity rights protect an individual from having parts of their identity commercially exploited or represented without permission. Those parts can include a name, an image, a likeness or other recognisable attributes.
Generative AI has added a new layer to these disputes. Digitally created images, videos and other content can now imitate a public figure closely enough to feel authentic, which makes it harder for audiences to tell what is real and what has been manufactured.
The wider issue for Bollywood
The unauthorised use of celebrity identities through digital platforms has become an increasingly visible legal issue. Courts are now dealing with cases that extend well beyond the traditional commercial use of a name or photograph.
- Unauthorised commercial use of a celebrity’s name or image
- AI-generated images and videos made without consent
- Deepfakes and digital impersonation
- Fake endorsements that rely on a star’s identity
The Delhi High Court has heard several similar cases in recent months, involving celebrities and public figures who say their identities have been used without authorisation. Kriti’s plea sits within that growing body of litigation.
What comes next
No final order has been made. The next hearing on October 29 will be an important step, because the court has signalled that it wants to examine judgments and research material before deciding how far the protection should go.
For Hindi film fans, this is not just a legal technicality. The case touches the same technology that can put a familiar face into a video, an advertisement or a social media post without the actor’s involvement. A clear ruling could shape how AI-generated celebrity content is handled in India.
Source: Bollywood Hungama