High Court protects Aishwarya Rai's personality rights, says No misuse of name, image

The Delhi High Court has granted Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan protection over her personality rights, ruling that unauthorised commercial use of her name, image, voice, or other attributes would violate her right to live with dignity.

Justice Tejas Karia restrained several entities from misusing the actor’s personal attributes, including her likeness and identity markers, for commercial gain without her consent. The court held that such misuse causes not only financial loss but also harms her dignity and reputation.

“Any infringement of the plaintiff's personality rights, while causing confusion amongst the members of the public regarding endorsement or sponsorship of a product or service by the plaintiff, will



also lead to dilution of the plaintiff's reputation and goodwill,” the order said.

The court observed that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is among the most celebrated figures in Indian entertainment and has served as a brand ambassador for several companies. “She has garnered significant goodwill and reputation such that the members of the public repose their trust in the brands endorsed by her,” Justice Karia noted.

The ruling strengthens protection for celebrities against unauthorised exploitation of their identity, including in advertisements, merchandise, and digital media, and reinforces that personality rights are closely linked to an individual’s fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.