Delhi HC Summons in Kangana Ranaut Personality Rights Lawsuit
Delhi High Court issues summons in Kangana Ranaut's lawsuit to protect her personality rights against AI and fake news.
The Delhi High Court has officially issued summons in a legal battle initiated by actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who is seeking judicial protection for her personality and publicity rights. The lawsuit aims to safeguard her identity from digital misuse and unauthorized exploitation.
Court Reviews Evidence of Misuse
Presiding over the matter, Justice Vikas Mahajan reviewed various digital evidence submitted by Ranaut's legal team, including specific web links. During the proceedings, the court examined an animated clip and a particular meme. Upon review, Justice Mahajan observed that the content in question appeared to be satirical in nature.
Representing the actor, Advocate Saket Sikri clarified the scope of the legal action. He emphasized that the current plea is not intended to suppress satirical content. Instead, the primary objective is to curb the dangerous proliferation of:
- Sexually explicit material
- Pornography
- Fake news
- AI-generated content that falsely attributes statements to the actor
Court Directs Finalized List of Defendants
The court noted that several defendants had already removed the offending material after receiving an advance copy of the plaint. Consequently, Justice Mahajan has directed Ranaut’s counsel to submit a finalized list of defendants for whom a formal takedown order is required. The legal team must also file an amended memo of parties to reflect those who have already complied and been removed from the proceedings.
Justice Mahajan indicated that an interim order would be issued in this case. The court has scheduled the next hearing for February 3, 2027.
A Growing Trend of Celebrity Legal Battles
This case is not an isolated incident in the digital age. In a concurrent proceeding, the Delhi High Court also issued summons in a similar lawsuit filed by actor Vijay Deverakonda. Deverakonda has alleged the unauthorized commercial exploitation of his identity through AI-generated social media posts, impersonation, and false endorsements.
Ranaut joins an expanding list of high-profile Indian celebrities who have turned to the judiciary to defend their identities against emerging digital threats. Other stars seeking to secure their personality rights include:
- Amitabh Bachchan
- Anil Kapoor
- Rajinikanth
- Jackie Shroff
- Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
- Abhishek Bachchan
- Salman Khan