Actor Varun Dhawan has secured interim relief from the Delhi High Court in a significant case concerning the protection of personality rights and the unauthorised use of celebrity identities online. The court issued directions aimed at preventing the misuse of the actor’s name, image, likeness, voice and other personal attributes across digital platforms.
The development comes amid increasing concerns over the spread of deepfake content, AI-generated material, fake endorsements, explicit content and unauthorised commercial exploitation involving public figures. The court observed the need to safeguard the actor’s identity from misuse and indicated that immediate protective measures were necessary.
Justice Jyoti Singh granted interim protection and directed that infringing content linked to the unauthorised use of Varun Dhawan’s identity be removed from online platforms. The order covers deepfake videos, manipulated images, obscene or offensive material, and commercial merchandise allegedly using the actor’s likeness without permission.
Appearing on behalf of the actor, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi presented multiple online links before the court, alleging that they contained objectionable content and unauthorised commercial material exploiting the actor’s identity. The court directed that a detailed list of such URLs be submitted while confirming that interim protection would remain in force.
The court further instructed social media intermediaries and digital platforms to ensure that Varun Dhawan’s name, image, voice and likeness are not misused in any form. Platforms hosting such content have been directed to remove the material and take necessary steps to prevent its further circulation. The protection also extends to unidentified individuals, commonly referred to in legal proceedings as “John Doe” defendants, who may be involved in creating or distributing such content.
The case highlights the growing concern within the entertainment industry regarding the misuse of celebrity identities through artificial intelligence, deepfake technology and unauthorised promotional activities. Legal experts have increasingly pointed to the need for stronger safeguards as technological advancements make it easier to replicate a person’s appearance, voice and persona without consent.
Varun Dhawan now joins a number of prominent personalities who have approached courts seeking protection of their personality rights. Similar legal actions have previously been initiated by public figures including Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Karan Johar, R. Madhavan, Arjun Kapoor, Pawan Kalyan and N. T. Rama Rao Jr., among others, reflecting a broader legal trend aimed at combating digital identity misuse.
The ruling reinforces the judiciary’s evolving approach towards protecting personality rights in the digital era, particularly in cases involving deepfakes, manipulated content and unauthorised commercial. (ABP LIVE)
