Bombay HC Protects Shilpa Shetty’s Personality Rights; Orders Removal Of Deepfake, Defamatory Content

Over the past few months, several prominent celebrities, including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Karan Johar, Jaya Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Akkineni Nagarjuna, have approached courts seeking protection of their personality rights amid the growing misuse of celebrity identities online. Now, actor Shilpa Shetty has also secured relief in the matter, as the Bombay High Court recently issued an order safeguarding her personality rights. The development comes after the actor moved the court against the alleged circulation of manipulated and defamatory content using her name, image and likeness across digital platforms.

Bombay HC Protects Shilpa Shetty’s Personality Rights

Represented by advocate Sana Raees Khan, the actor had earlier filed a legal suit highlighting concerns over deepfakes, digital impersonation and the unauthorised use of her name, image and likeness online. In a significant development in the case, the Bombay High Court has now issued an order safeguarding Shetty’s personality rights and restricting any further misuse of her identity.

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The present order specifically safeguards her personality rights against misuse. The Bombay High Court has, in the present order, restrained the defendants from using or misrepresenting her name, image, voice, likeness or persona in any manner. The Court has further directed that the defamatory and infringing content circulating on various platforms be immediately pulled down, thereby reinforcing that a public figure’s identity and reputation cannot be commercially exploited or digitally misused without consent.

Shilpa Shetty’s Lawyer Sana Raees Khan On Bombay HC Present Order

Shilpa Shetty’s lawyer, Sana Raees Khan, said, “The Bombay High Court has made it absolutely clear in Ms Shilpa Shetty’s Personality Rights case that the internet cannot become a playground for deepfakes and digital impersonation. The Court has protected her personality rights and acknowledged that her name, image, voice and persona are valuable legal rights which cannot be commercially exploited or digitally manipulated without her consent. This order reinforces that digital platforms and intermediaries must act swiftly to remove such material and must restrain the misuse of technology that violates her dignity and reputation.”

What Are Personality Rights?

Personality rights refer to an individual’s legal entitlement to control the commercial and public use of their identity. These rights protect attributes uniquely linked to a person, such as their name, image, likeness, voice, signature, or even trademark catchphrases, from exploitation without consent.

The Right of Publicity and the Right to Privacy are the two rights that fall under Personality Rights. Right of Publicity protects against unauthorised commercial exploitation – such as using a celebrity’s face in advertisements. The Right to Privacyguards against intrusion into personal dignity. This also covers misuse through deepfakes, morphed images, fabricated endorsements, or intimate doctored content.

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Also Read: Shilpa Shetty Approaches Bombay HC To Protect Her Personality Rights; Lawyer Says “Our Suit Signals Zero Tolerance”

Varsha Tiwari

Varsha Tiwari is a budding content writer passionate about Bollywood, pop culture, and the stories behind the spotlight. She enjoys breaking down trends, celebrity moments, and film narratives into engaging, reader-friendly content. Always curious and observant, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication and Journalism. Outside of writing, she enjoys painting because storytelling doesn’t always need words to make an impact.