Telugu star Nagarjuna received relief from the Delhi High Court. The Manmadhudu actor had filed a plea seeking protection of his personality rights. On Wednesday, the Court issued interim orders in his favour, preventing misuse of his image and voice.
The Court ruled that no one can use Nagarjuna’s photos or voice without permission. It also warned that using AI, JAI, machine learning, or deepfake technology to replicate his identity will attract strict punishment.
In today’s digital age, this judgment stands as a landmark for celebrity rights. The Court stressed that using technology to violate personality rights will lead to legal consequences. This ruling is seen as a key step in safeguarding actors from misuse.
Nagarjuna’s counsel highlighted his career of 95 films and two national awards. They pointed out his popularity as the “celluloid scientist,” with 60 lakh followers on X and 81 lakh on Facebook. His influence added weight to the plea.
The lawyers also revealed misuse of Nagarjuna’s photos and voice in pornographic content, fake endorsements, and merchandise. They added that hashtags with his name promoted fake videos on YouTube shorts. The Court agreed such misuse, if used in AI training, would cause greater damage.
