Indian Courts Block AI Deepfakes of Kriti Sanon and Ananya Panday

The Delhi and Bombay High Courts have issued interim orders protecting the personality rights of actors Kriti Sanon and Ananya Panday against the unauthorized use of AI-generated content. In an order issued October 29, the Delhi High Court restrained third parties from posting morphed and sexually explicit deepfakes, audio, or videos of Sanon. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav ordered online intermediaries to remove specific URLs and prohibited the creation of AI chatbots, voice models, or merchandise that falsely imply an association with the actor.

Justice Kaurav declined to grant a blanket injunction, ruling that personality rights comprise distinct claims including privacy, defamation, and publicity. He noted that while fame helps determine commercial value, these rights apply to all individuals. The order excludes legitimate news, criticism, satire, parody, and fan expression. The court is scheduled to hear the matter further on December 10, 2026.

Similarly, the Bombay High Court ordered the takedown of objectionable AI-generated photographs and content infringing upon the rights of Ananya Panday. Justice Madhav Jamdar issued the ad-interim order after Panday alleged that businesses used her image to promote products without consent, violating her rights to privacy, publicity, and dignity. These rulings follow a broader legal trend in India, with previous protections granted to public figures such as Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.