Karan Johar Seeks Court Protection for His Personality Rights

Following in the footsteps of Bollywood actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, renowned film producer and director Karan Johar has also filed a petition in the Delhi High Court. He is seeking to prevent the unauthorized use of his photographs, voice, and other personal attributes. According to the news agency PTI, Johar submitted this plea to protect his personality rights. He has asked the court to stop people from selling merchandise illegally using his name. This petition was presented for a hearing on Monday before Justice Manmeet PS Arora.

Request to Stop Unauthorized Sales

Karan Johar has requested the court to issue orders against certain websites and online platforms. He wants to stop them from engaging in the illegal sale of merchandise like mugs and T-shirts that feature his name and picture. This move is part of a growing trend where celebrities are seeking legal protection for their personal brand and image.

A Growing Trend Among Bollywood Celebrities

Recently, many Bollywood stars have turned to the courts to safeguard their personality rights. Just recently, the Delhi High Court ordered online platforms to stop using the names, photographs, voices, and AI-generated images of Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan without their permission. Earlier this year, in May, actor Jackie Shroff also filed a similar petition. He accused various parties of misusing his image and videos to sell products without his consent, and the court provided protection for his personality rights.

Precedents in Protecting Celebrity Identity

This legal action is not new. In 2023, the court restricted the misuse of Anil Kapoor's image, voice, and his famous catchphrase "jhakaas." Furthermore, back in November 2022, the court also granted protection to Amitabh Bachchan's personality and promotional rights, preventing their unauthorized commercial use.