NEW DELHI — Veteran Bollywood actor Tabu has approached the Delhi High Court seeking legal protection for her personality and publicity rights, targeting the unauthorized use of her name, image, voice, and likeness in AI-generated media and digital impersonation across online platforms.
The petition, heard by a single-judge bench of Justice Jyoti Singh, requests immediate court orders directing internet service providers and social media companies to take down objectionable online material created or shared without her consent.
According to the plea, the actor argued that unauthorized digital content—including artificial intelligence deepfakes and fraudulent commercial endorsements—violates her fundamental right to privacy and personality rights, causing significant reputational harm.
During the preliminary hearing, Justice Jyoti Singh pointed out technical discrepancies in the legal documents filed on behalf of the actor. The court instructed senior advocate Swathi Sukumar, representing Tabu, to submit a revised memo of parties after noting that particulars regarding certain defendants were incomplete or inaccurately specified.
Emphasizing that precise party details are essential for effective adjudication, the bench directed the legal team to rectify the procedural errors before proceeding further. The court subsequently deferred the hearing to August 6, 2026.
Tabu’s legal move joins a growing wave of high-profile celebrities turning to Indian courts to combat generative AI misuse, identity theft, and unauthorized commercial exploitation in the digital era. Over recent months, the Delhi High Court has deliberated on and granted personality rights protection to numerous public figures, including actors Anil Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Allu Arjun, and Salman Khan, as well as several prominent sports personalities and public figures.
