After Abhishek-Aishwarya Bachchan, Akshay Kumar Gets Protection Against Misuse Of Deepfake Videos From Bombay HC

The Bombay High Court has decided to grant interim protection to Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, safeguarding him from the unauthorised use of his image and identity through deepfake videos. The court observed that the increasing misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake content could have serious effects on a public figure’s reputation and public perception. The case was heard by Justice Arif Doctor, following a plea filed by Akshay Kumar, also known as Akshay Hari Om Bhatia. The actor’s petition seeks to prevent the misuse and commercial exploitation of his personality and publicity rights. These include his name, screen name, likeness, voice, performance style, mannerisms, and other identifiable traits.

Meanwhile, senior advocate Dr Birendra Saraf, representing Akshay, told the court that such misuse not only harms the actor but also affects the public. “Many times, the damage occurs even before clarifications are issued,” he said. The suit was filed after several incidents where Akshay’s image was used without permission in AI-generated videos and fake endorsements. In one case earlier this year, a deepfake movie trailer featuring Akshay surfaced online, forcing him to issue a clarification. Another video falsely showed him portraying Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while a separate clip depicted him speaking about Rishi Valmiki.

 

 

 

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Senior advocate Dr Birendra Saraf further revealed that a website called Akshaykumar.ai allows users to generate fake audio in the actor’s voice, while counterfeit merchandise and fake social media accounts in his name continue to circulate online. He added that such videos are often spread on the dark web, making them difficult to trace. Several other celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Karan Johar, Rishab Shetty, and Akkineni Nagarjuna, have also approached courts in recent months to protect their identity and personality rights.

Also Read: Aishwarya Rai And Abhishek Bachchan File Rs 4 Crore Lawsuit Against YouTube Over Deepfake Videos

Recently, the court also issued similar protection for veteran singer Asha Bhosle, stating that using AI to recreate a celebrity’s image or voice without consent violates their identity rights.