Delhi High Court Hints At Protecting Personality Rights Of Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Over Misuse Of Images, AI Content

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan moved the Delhi High Court on Tuesday (September 09) against various entities to restrain them from using her image, likeness and persona, thereby infringing her 'personality rights'. 

During the hearing, the high court orally indicated that it will pass an ad-interim order injuncting the defendant entities. 

Appearing for Rai senior advocate Sandeep Sethi submitted before Justice Tejas Karia that his client was seeking enforcement of her publicity and personality rights.

Sethi referred to the defendant website and said that the actress had not authorised it.

"Please see second defendant. Aishwarya Rai wallpapers, photos etc. The third defendant is a collection of T-shirts, her pictures on T-shirts are sold," he submitted.

Sethi referred to the details of other defendants using the actress' images etc without her authorisation.

Sethi submitted, "They are collecting money on the representation of my association. Screenshots on YouTube where images morphed, these are never images belonging to Aishwarya Rai. Neither she has authorised such images. All AI generated". 

He further said that some intimate photographs were being used "which are completely unreal". He said that some of the defendant entities are 'John Doe' wherein some of them were using the actress's images used to sell coffee mugs and other articles.

Sethi said, "Many judgments recognising this right but the view in Mr. Anil Kapoor's case, the order on interim application, the merit of the plaintiff is dealt. But please see how court deals with this question on the right" and referred to Delhi High Court's 2023 decision protecting personality rights of actor Anil Kapoor. 

Sethi said that there can be no right in the favour of defendant entities to use the actress's images, likeness or persona.

"A gentleman is collecting money merely by putting my name and face. Her name and likeness is used to satisfy someone's sexual desires. Very unfortunate," he added. 

The counsel appearing for Google referred to an order passed in Andaz Apna Apna case and said that in that case links were provided which were then taken down by Google.

The court at this stage said:

"There are only 151 URLs which will form part of the order as far as you are concerned. You take down. We will pass orders against each of defendants because prayers are broad. But we will grant injunctions separately". 

The court said that Order in the matter will be uploaded, and orally hinted that it will pass an ad interim order injuncting the defendants.

The matter will be heard now on January 15, 2026.

Rai was represented by Advocates Pravin Anand, ⁠Ameet Naik, ⁠Madhu Gadodia, ⁠Dhruv Anand and Udita Patro

Case title: AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN v/s AISHWARYAWORLD.COM & ORS.

CS(COMM)  956 of 2025