Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, seeking urgent legal protection against the unauthorized use of her name, image, and voice in sexually explicit content created using artificial intelligence (AI). The plea comes amid growing concerns over deepfake technology and its misuse to produce non-consensual and pornographic material involving celebrities.
Rai’s legal counsel, Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, informed the court that the actor’s likeness was being exploited by multiple online platforms and content creators to produce “morphed, unreal intimate photographs” intended to “satisfy sexual desires.” The content has been widely circulated on social media platforms and websites, violating her dignity, privacy, and personality rights.
Platforms and Government Bodies Named in Petition
The petition names several platforms and entities allegedly involved in the circulation or monetization of the deepfake content. These include websites like aishwaryaworld.com, apkpure.com, bollywoodteeshop.com, and the e-commerce platform Etsy. AI-based chatbots, YouTube channels such as NewNWSTamil and Bollywood_CinemaTV07, and even tech giant Google are also listed as respondents.
In addition to private platforms, Indian government bodies—including the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications—have been arrayed as parties, potentially to enforce the blocking and removal of such content through regulatory action.
The plea also alleges that some platforms were fraudulently collecting money in Rai’s name, thereby deceiving users and further amplifying the harm to her public image.
Court Considers Interim Relief, Hearing Set for November
During Tuesday’s hearing, the Delhi High Court indicated that it may issue an interim order to restrain platforms and individuals from using Aishwarya Rai’s identity without her explicit consent. The bench also stated that further directions would be issued to remove objectionable content and block harmful links.
The case has been referred to the joint registrar for further procedural steps, with the next hearing scheduled for November 7, and substantive proceedings to resume on January 15, 2026.
As concerns over AI-generated deepfake content escalate globally, Rai’s legal action could set a precedent in digital privacy rights and the protection of public figures from technological abuse in India.
