New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday (September 25, 2025) said it would pass an interim order on a plea filed by Telugu actor Akkineni Nagarjuna seeking protection of his personality and publicity rights.
Justice Tejas Karia, hearing the matter, observed, “When you can identify the URLs, the best is to direct them to take down… Will pass orders.”
Nagarjuna’s grievances
Nagarjuna’s counsel told the court that the actor was aggrieved by three specific infringements:
- The misuse of his personality on pornographic websites.
- The unauthorised sale of merchandise bearing his name, image, or likeness.
- Circulation of YouTube videos exploiting his identity without permission.
The plea emphasised that such actions not only caused reputational harm but also infringed upon his commercial rights as a public figure.
Precedent from other celebrities
The High Court has recently entertained similar pleas from Bollywood celebrities, including actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and filmmaker Karan Johar. In those cases, the court issued separate orders protecting their personality and publicity rights against unauthorised exploitation.
Court’s observation
The judge indicated that once infringing URLs are identified, the most effective remedy is to direct their takedown. An interim order to this effect is expected to be passed shortly.
Conclusion
The outcome of Nagarjuna’s plea will further strengthen the growing body of legal precedents in India safeguarding celebrity publicity and personality rights in the digital era. It is expected to provide clarity on unauthorised online use of celebrity identities, from merchandise to video content.