Delhi HC protects personality rights of actor Naga Chaitanya
File photo of actor Naga Chaitanya. | Photo credit: V. RAJU
The Delhi High Court has protected the personality rights of Telugu actor Akkineni Naga Chaitanya by restraining several websites and online platforms from making unauthorized commercial use of his name, image, likeness and creating deeply fake inappropriate content using artificial intelligence (AI).
Justice Jyoti Singh, in an interim order passed on May 29, barred third parties from selling merchandise bearing Mr. Chaitanya’s name and likeness without consent and ordered the removal of objectionable content from online platforms.
The actor’s counsel informed the court that several websites hosted pornographic video content using Mr. Chaitanya’s name as a category or brand, causing irreparable damage to his reputation.
He further stated that certain parties were selling merchandise bearing his likeness and YouTube videos and channels contained defamatory, artificial intelligence and otherwise unauthorized content, which violated the movie star’s personality and rights of publicity.
The court observed that Mr. Chaitanya, son of veteran actor Akkineni Nagarjuna, is undoubtedly a respected actor in the Indian film industry with an illustrious career spanning more than 15 years.
“The plaintiff (Mr. Chaitanya) also has the right to protect his name, likeness, voice and image, which are elements and attributes of his personality and personality, and no third party has the right to use these attributes without his permission,” the statement said.
“Pornographic Content”
On the issue of pornographic content using his name and likeness, the court said that Mr. Chaitanya is “entitled to protection from the dissemination of pornographic content as well as AI-generated images depicting him in an inappropriate scenario.”
“Such distasteful content harms and damages the plaintiff’s reputation and may mislead the public into believing that what is being shown may be true. The plaintiff’s right to prevent third parties from infringement and publication must also be preserved,” he added.
Other personalities
Several public figures such as actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Salman Khan, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, journalist Sudhir Chaudhary and podcaster Raj Shamani have earlier approached the Supreme Court seeking protection of their personalities and right to publicity. The High Court granted them an injunction.
The Supreme Court also recently granted interim protection to the personality rights of politician Shashi Tharoor, cricketer Gautam Gambhir and actors Sonakshi Sinha, Vivek Oberoi, Arun Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Allu Arjun.
Published – 04 Jun 2026 18:12 IST