Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court to protect her personality rights, citing unauthorized use of her name, photos, and public image across digital platforms and commercial products.
Justice Tejas Karia heard the matter and expressed the court’s willingness to issue injunctions to stop such misuse. The case is set for its next hearing on January 15, 2026.
Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Rai, argued that her identity is being exploited for commercial gain and inappropriate content. He pointed out that several websites falsely claim to be her official platforms, misleading the public and violating her publicity rights.
Sethi showcased examples of unauthorized merchandise — including mugs, T-shirts, and drinkware — featuring her image and name without consent.
In one alarming case, a company called Aishwarya Nation Wealth falsely listed Rai as its Chairperson in official records, despite having no legitimate connection to her. Sethi called this fraudulent and confirmed that Rai had no knowledge of the company.
Sethi also highlighted the circulation of digitally altered, obscene, and AI-generated images of Rai online, calling it a serious violation of her dignity. He emphasized that her likeness was being misused for sexually explicit content, which he described as deeply offensive and unacceptable.
Google's legal representative, Advocate Mamta Rani, addressed the technical side of content removal, stating that specific URLs would be required to take down the offending material. Justice Karia noted that while a single, unified order would be ideal, the court may have to issue separate injunctions depending on the extent and nature of the violations.
The court advised Rai’s legal team to either provide specific URLs for takedown or follow the Blocking and Screening Instructions (BSI) process. It added that any orders issued would be tailored to each defendant, unless a broader ruling could be applied across the board.