Abhishek Bachchan Seeks Delhi HC Protection of Personality Rights After Aishwarya Rai’s Plea

Actor Abhishek Bachchan has approached the Delhi High Court seeking legal protection of his personality rights, just a day after his wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, moved the court with a similar petition. The move reflects growing concerns among celebrities over the misuse of their name, image, and identity in the digital space.

Bachchan’s petition seeks an injunction to safeguard his persona from exploitation by unauthorised platforms. He has requested the court to direct websites and intermediaries such as Google and YouTube to remove infringing content, block offending URLs, and restrain future violations by unidentified individuals through “John Doe” orders.

The development follows Aishwarya Rai’s plea against a website, aishwaryaworld.com, which allegedly claims to be her only official site. Her counsel argued that the platform misrepresents itself, publishes her personal details and photographs without consent, and sells merchandise such as T-shirts and mugs using her name and likeness. Rai’s legal team described the misuse as derogatory and defamatory, amounting to an assault on her dignity and privacy.

The petitions highlight the increasing importance of personality rights in India, which courts have recognised under Article 21 of the Constitution. These rights, encompassing publicity and privacy, protect individuals against unauthorised commercial exploitation. The Supreme Court’s landmark Puttaswamy ruling on the right to privacy and earlier injunctions granted to actors like Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff have set precedents in this area.

Both petitions underscore the risks posed by technology, social media, and e-commerce platforms, where celebrity images and identities are often misused for profit. The High Court’s response to these pleas could shape the contours of personality rights enforcement in India, especially regarding online misuse, deepfakes, and anonymous infringers.