Actor Manoj Bajpayee seeks personality rights protection from Delhi High Court

Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee moved the Delhi High Court over alleged misuse of his image, voice and personality elements. The hearing highlighted growing legal concerns over AI-led use of public figures' identities.

In Short

• Manoj Bajpayee moved Delhi HC seeking protection of his personality rights
• He alleged misuse of his image and AI-generated voice by companies
• Court questioned jurisdiction as Bajpayee is Mumbai-based but defendants in Delhi

Actor Manoj Bajpayee has taken his concerns over the use of his image, voice and identity to the Delhi High Court. The 57-year-old actor moved the court on Monday seeking protection of his personality rights, alleging that his likeness was being used to promote products and that AI tools were being used to recreate his voice and aspects of his personality.

As reported by Live Law, the matter came up briefly before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, with Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar appearing for Bajpayee.

One of the issues raised in court concerned H2PG Designs Private Limited, which Bajpayee alleged was using his photographs to create the impression that he was wearing suits made by the company. Another defendant was allegedly using AI to generate the actor's voice. Bajpayee has also raised concerns over AI chatbots using elements of his personality.

Why Manoj Bajpayee moved Delhi HC?

There was also a question of jurisdiction during Monday's hearing. Justice Kaurav asked why Bajpayee had approached the Delhi High Court when he is primarily based in Mumbai. Sukumar submitted that some of the defendants are based in Delhi, giving the court jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The court indicated that the case could be heard and decreed, particularly where defendants don't appear to contest such matters. Justice Kaurav observed that there was "no point of burdening ourselves" with such cases if they could routinely be dealt with by the Registrar instead of coming up for a detailed hearing.

The judge asked Bajpayee's counsel to prepare a compilation of interim and final orders passed in previous personality rights cases. She was also asked to place on record how other High Courts have dealt with similar matters.

Celebrities move Delhi HC for similar rights

And there is already plenty of precedent. The Delhi High Court has previously granted protection to public figures including actor Tabu, cricketers Abhishek Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, politician Shashi Tharoor and Telangana deputy CM Pawan Kalyan.

Orders have also been passed in favour of actors Allu Arjun, Mohanlal, Kajol, R Madhavan, Jr NTR, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, singer Jubin Nautiyal, Aman Gupta and spiritual preacher Aniruddhacharya.

Elsewhere, similar protection has been granted to figures including Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, actors Nagarjuna, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and filmmaker Karan Johar. Bollywood star Salman Khan has also approached the court in a similar personality rights matter.

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