Delhi High Court Protects Personality Rights Of Actor Jaya Bachchan, No Interim Relief Against Movie Posters

The Delhi High Court on Monday passed an interim order protecting the personality rights of actor and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Jaya Bachchan

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the interim order against various defendants using Bachchan's images and personality traits unauthorizedly, without her consent.

However no interim order was passed qua the defendants using her images in movie posters. Justice Arora was of the view that the said entities must be heard before such a direction is passed.

“I will issue the injunction….Issue blocking orders with respect to thr websites. I will issue directions that you will make websites and DNRs as parties,” Court said.

“Upon amended memo of parties being filed, issue summons. There are clerical errors in the plaint. The plaintiff is granted liberty to file amended plaint within two days,” it added.

The matter is now listed on April 16.

Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi was appearing for Bachchan. 

He referred to the first defendant, saying that morphed images of the actress have been published. He also told the Court about details of other defendants allegedly selling merchandise using her images.

On the claim of her image being used in movie posters, the court remarked, "These are movie posters. How do you claim copyright in these? Copyright is not vested with you but with whoever is owner of the movie."

Sethi submitted that copyright will now triumph over personality rights of the Bachchan. To this, the judge responded:

“Let them be here. I am not persuaded….this is a poster of a film. Let that party be here. Let me hear him out. Then we will see. It's not as blatant as other defendants.”

Sethi also referred to other defendants, including a YouTube channel and an Instagram page posting morphed images of the actress and other pictures impersonating her.

He also said that the Youtube channel was posting videos defaming her.

Recently, coordinate benches have passed orders protecting the personality rights of “The Art of Living” foundation founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Telugu actor Nagarjuna, Bollywood actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and film producer Karan Johar.

Notably, Justice Arora recently protected the personality rights of journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, who had sought relief regarding the circulation of allegedly misleading and AI-generated videos against him on social media.

Title: Jaya Bachchan v. Bollywood Bubble & Ors 

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 1463