Delhi High Court grants interim protection to R Madhavan against deepfakes and unauthorised use
The Delhi High Court on Monday, December 22, issued an interim injunction protecting actor R Madhavan’s personality rights, stepping in to stop the unauthorised commercial use of his name, image and likeness online. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora’s order targets the growing misuse of deepfake and AI-generated material and requires removal of obscene or misleading content that falsely connects the actor to certain digital material.
What the court ordered
- Injunction on commercial use: The court has restrained defendants from selling merchandise and other commercial products that exploit Madhavan’s persona without his consent.
- Removal of offensive content: Online material found to be obscene, misleading or impersonatory — including AI-made visuals and fabricated trailers — must be taken down.
- Recognition of AI threat: Justice Arora highlighted the unique risks posed by deepfake technology, noting how easily reputation and dignity can be harmed in the digital age.
How the case reached the bench
Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar, appearing for Madhavan, told the court that multiple defendants had circulated AI-manipulated clips and false promotional visuals wrongly suggesting the actor’s involvement. The pleadings argued that such fabricated content not only misrepresents Madhavan but also poses serious reputational damage.
The court learned that Madhavan had already asked social media platforms to remove the infringing material before approaching the judiciary — a step that matters because the judge has previously emphasised that urgent relief seekers should first try platform-level remedies before moving to court.
Broader context: a rising line of personality-rights cases
This order adds Madhavan to a growing list of public figures seeking judicial protection against AI-driven impersonation and unauthorised commercial exploitation. Recent legal actions have included names across cinema, sports and public life such as Pawan Kalyan, Sunil Gavaskar, Salman Khan and Jr NTR. Courts have also granted similar protections to personalities including Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Nagarjuna, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Karan Johar.
Justice Arora himself has passed comparable interim orders for journalist Sudhir Chaudhary and podcaster Raj Shamani, reflecting a pattern in which courts are increasingly alert to the special vulnerabilities faced by well-known individuals online.
Why the ruling matters
Beyond the immediate relief for Madhavan, the order signals the judiciary’s evolving approach to personality rights in an era of generative AI. The key takeaways:
- Public visibility does not strip anyone of the right to control their image and reputation.
- Courts are willing to intervene quickly when sophisticated technologies enable realistic impersonations and commercial exploitation.
- Victims are expected to first pursue platform remedies, but judicial protection remains available where online hosts cannot or do not act effectively.
What next?
The injunction is ad interim, meaning it offers temporary protection while the case proceeds. Further hearings will determine the long-term scope of relief, potential damages and whether greater regulatory or platform-level obligations are needed to curb AI misuse.
For now, the ruling provides a clear message to content creators, sellers of unauthorised merchandise and platforms: exploiting a celebrity’s persona without consent — especially using AI-enabled manipulation — can attract swift legal consequences.
Quick note
Off the courtroom record, Madhavan has lately been in the spotlight for positive reasons too — he recently praised colleague Akshaye Khanna, saying he deserves the adulation he’s getting for his work. This legal win helps ensure his public image remains his to protect.