Startup Originals Team
The Delhi High Court has raised concerns over the expanding use of personality rights by public figures, saying the concept could affect free speech if applied too broadly. The observations came while the court considered actor Janhvi Kapoor’s plea seeking protection against unauthorised use of her name, image and persona online.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said the issue of personality rights appeared to be “going out of hand” as more actors, cricketers, singers and politicians approached courts seeking restrictions on the use of their identities. The court stressed the need to maintain a balance between protecting an individual’s persona and preserving legitimate expression.
At the same time, the court recognised the need to act against obscene and pornographic material involving Kapoor. Reports on the order said relief was directed at specific objectionable content, while the court did not agree to a blanket takedown covering fan pages and other forms of online expression.
What Happened?
Janhvi Kapoor approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection from the unauthorised commercial and other misuse of her personality online. Her plea covered concerns around the use of her name, image and identity in material that she alleged was harmful or exploitative.
The case comes amid a growing number of personality-rights disputes involving Indian celebrities. Courts have increasingly been asked to deal with digitally manipulated images, deepfakes, unauthorised merchandise, voice cloning and sexually explicit material involving public figures.
During the hearing, Justice Bhambhani questioned how far personality rights should extend. The court’s concern was that an overly broad interpretation could allow public figures to restrict content that may otherwise fall within legitimate speech or fan expression.
Key Details
A key distinction in the proceedings was between harmful or obscene material and ordinary fan-created content.
The court reportedly allowed action against specific pornographic and obscene material linked to Kapoor, but declined to impose a blanket restriction on fan pages. This approach reflects the court’s attempt to separate content that can cause serious harm to a person’s dignity or reputation from material that merely uses a celebrity’s name or image.
Reports also said the larger set of material identified in Kapoor’s plea included fake and AI-generated content. Such cases have become increasingly important as generative AI makes it easier to create realistic-looking images and videos using a person’s face or identity without consent.
The case also highlights the difficulty faced by courts in dealing with large volumes of online content. Removing clearly unlawful material may be relatively straightforward, but a broad order covering every page, post or fan account could potentially affect lawful expression.
Why This Matters
The Delhi High Court’s observations could have significance beyond Kapoor’s individual case because personality-rights litigation has expanded rapidly in India.
Celebrities have sought court protection against unauthorised commercial use of their names and likenesses, as well as AI-generated and sexually explicit material. In May 2026, the Delhi High Court also granted protection to actor Varun Dhawan against unauthorised exploitation of his name, image, voice and likeness, including misuse through AI and deepfake technologies.
The growing number of such cases creates a legal challenge: celebrities need effective remedies against impersonation, commercial exploitation and harmful deepfakes, while courts also need to ensure that personality rights do not become a tool for suppressing criticism, commentary, parody or ordinary fan activity.
That balance is particularly important as AI-generated content becomes easier and cheaper to produce and distribute.
Janhvi Kapoor’s Background
Janhvi Kapoor is an Indian film actor who made her acting debut with Dhadak in 2018. She has since worked across Hindi cinema and expanded into Telugu-language films.
Her public profile and large digital presence have made her identity commercially valuable, while also increasing the risk of unauthorised use of her photographs, videos and likeness across social media and other online platforms.
Kapoor has also spoken publicly about the impact of manipulated images. The issue has become increasingly relevant for celebrities as AI tools and image-editing technologies make it easier to create convincing but fabricated material.
Industry Impact
The case could influence how celebrities, social-media platforms and content creators approach personality rights in India.
For celebrities, stronger protection against obscene deepfakes and unauthorised commercial exploitation can help protect reputation and commercial value. For technology platforms, however, increasingly specific court orders may require faster systems for identifying and removing unlawful content.
For users and creators, the court’s refusal to impose a blanket restriction on fan pages is significant. It indicates that not every use of a celebrity’s name or image can automatically be treated as an infringement requiring removal.
The issue is also becoming part of a wider legal debate around artificial intelligence. Earlier Delhi High Court proceedings involving celebrities such as Varun Dhawan have already addressed AI-generated images, deepfakes and other forms of digital impersonation.
Future Plans
The immediate significance of Kapoor’s case lies in how the Delhi High Court ultimately defines the boundaries of personality rights and the circumstances in which online content can be restricted.
As more public figures seek protection against AI-generated content, courts are likely to face similar questions involving deepfakes, voice cloning, synthetic images and unauthorised commercial use.
A clearer distinction between unlawful exploitation and protected expression could provide greater certainty for celebrities, platforms and ordinary internet users.
Conclusion
The Delhi High Court’s remarks in the Janhvi Kapoor personality-rights case highlight a growing tension between individual protection and freedom of expression online.
While the court has recognised the need to remove obscene and harmful material involving Kapoor, its reluctance to support a blanket takedown shows that personality rights cannot automatically extend to every form of online content.
As AI-generated content becomes more common, the Delhi HC’s approach could contribute to a more defined legal framework for personality rights while ensuring that legitimate free speech remains protected.
