Actor Kriti Sanon has approached the Delhi High Court seeking legal protection for her personality rights. During the proceedings, the court reportedly asked her legal team to submit research papers, previous judgments and a detailed analysis of the legal principles governing such claims.
The development comes amid a growing number of cases in which celebrities have sought protection against the unauthorised use of their names, photographs, voices and other identifying features, including in AI-generated content and online impersonation.
According to a report by THG, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav asked Sanon’s lawyer to provide a compilation of relevant judgments and explain the legal position on personality rights. The court also reportedly raised questions about whether the High Court’s Intellectual Property Division has jurisdiction to hear such cases.
What Did the Delhi High Court Say?
During the hearing, the judge reportedly asked Sanon’s legal team to provide research and precedents that could help clarify the scope of personality rights.
“Can you give me some research paper? Please give a compilation. Give me judgments and your understanding regarding personality rights,” the court observed, as quoted in the report.
The court is examining legal questions concerning which aspects of a person’s identity may receive protection, including their name, voice, image and videos. The question of which court or division can hear such claims is also reportedly under consideration.
Sanon’s lawyer, Anand, told the court that he would submit the requested material. He also argued that there were no jurisdictional issues in the actor’s case.
The next hearing is scheduled for October 29, 2026, according to the report. The court reportedly indicated that it would consider passing a detailed order after reviewing the submissions.
The hearing does not, by itself, establish that Sanon has been granted the protection she sought. The final outcome will depend on the court’s subsequent proceedings and orders.
Why Has Kriti Sanon Sought Personality Rights Protection?
Personality rights concern the use of a person’s identity, including their name, likeness, voice and other recognisable characteristics. For public figures, these issues can arise when their identity is allegedly used without authorisation for commercial gain, impersonation or misleading online content.
The growth of AI-generated images, synthetic voices and deepfake videos has added urgency to these disputes. Celebrities have raised concerns about their likenesses being reproduced or used in ways they did not approve, including in advertisements and other digital material.
Legal protection, however, depends on the facts of each case, the rights being asserted and the applicable law. A request for protection does not automatically mean that every use of a celebrity’s image or identity is unlawful.
Other Celebrities Have Also Approached Courts
Sanon is among several prominent public figures who have sought legal remedies concerning the use of their identities. Bollywood actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan and Kartik Aaryan have been associated with personality-rights proceedings or requests for protection.
Similar disputes have also involved actors Kangana Ranaut, Tabu and Vijay Deverakonda, as well as cricketers Abhishek Sharma and Yuvraj Singh, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
The cases vary in their circumstances and the relief sought, so they should not be treated as having identical legal outcomes.
Personality Rights in the Age of AI
The increasing use of digital tools has made it easier to create convincing images, videos and audio that appear to feature well-known people. This has raised questions about consent, commercial exploitation, impersonation and the limits of existing legal protections.
Courts are being asked to consider how established legal principles apply to these newer forms of technology, while balancing individual rights with other relevant legal interests.
In Sanon’s case, the Delhi High Court’s reported request for research and previous judgments highlights the importance of clarifying the legal framework governing personality-rights claims and the jurisdictional questions surrounding them.
The next hearing on October 29 is expected to provide a further update on the proceedings. Until the court issues an order, the precise scope of any protection sought by Sanon and the outcome of her petition remain matters for the court to determine.
