In a landmark victory for celebrity privacy in the digital age, the Delhi High Court has stepped in to protect Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan’s personality and publicity rights. Responding to a suit filed by the actor, Justice Jyoti Singh granted an ex-parte interim injunction on May 29, ruling that Dhawan had established a prima facie case against the rampant misuse of his identity.

The court issued a sweeping order restraining various websites, social media intermediaries, and e-commerce platforms from exploiting Dhawan’s name, image, voice, or likeness without explicit permission.

The Battle Against Deepfakes and AI Misuse

A major catalyst for the legal action was the alarming rise of malicious, AI-generated deepfakes. The court explicitly noted that the actor deserves immediate protection from the spread of artificial intelligence tools used to create inappropriate and pornographic clips featuring him alongside female co-stars.

The Court's Stance: "Such malicious content is damaging his image and could mislead people into believing that what is depicted may be true."

To track down the perpetrators behind these digital fabrications, the High Court has directed tech giants Google, Meta Platforms, and X Corporation to hand over the Basic Customer Information (BSI) of the offending accounts. Furthermore, social media platforms have been ordered to take down any newly identified infringing content within 36 hours of notification.

Cracking Down on Fake Merchandise and Scam Bookings

Beyond digital manipulation, the lawsuit targeted unauthorized commercial exploitation. Representing Dhawan, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi highlighted two major areas of financial fraud:

• Unauthorized Merchandise: E-commerce vendors selling goods and apparel using the actor's persona without consent.

• Fake Event Bookings: Fraudulent agencies making false claims that they can hire Varun Dhawan for live performances and private events.

Dhawan, who has already secured official trademark registrations for both his name and signature, successfully argued that these practices directly infringe upon his commercial rights.

The Legal Mandate

The Delhi High Court’s injunction sets a strict boundary for both commercial entities and internet users:

• No Unauthorized Use: Absolutely no use of Varun Dhawan's name, picture, voice, or personality traits for commercial or personal gain without prior consent.

• E-Commerce Ban: Complete prohibition on selling, listing, or facilitating the sale of merchandise that infringes upon his personality rights.

• Tech Guardrails: Strict accountability for social media platforms to police and remove deepfakes swiftly.