Actor Kartik Aaryan has approached the Bombay High Court alleging unauthorized commercial use of his persona on multiple online platforms, underscoring growing concerns over digital misuse of celebrity identities.
Kartik Aryan takes legal route to save his identity, flags online abuse
According to reports, the actor has filed an intellectual property (IP) lawsuit seeking protection of his name, image, likeness and other identifiable features, which he claims are being used without consent. The petition targets several online platforms as well as unnamed individuals, often referred to as “John Doe” parties, who have been accused of exploiting his persona for commercial gain.
In his petition, Karthik has sought a permanent injunction to prevent entities from using his identity in advertisements, merchandise or digital content. They have also urged the court to direct the platforms to remove such content and disclose the details of those responsible. The actor’s legal team has argued that the abuse extends to emerging digital formats, including manipulated content and AI-generated content, raising concerns about privacy and publicity rights in an increasingly tech-driven ecosystem. The petition emphasizes that such unauthorized use not only violates their rights but also risks misleading the public.
The case is expected to be heard soon, with Karthik seeking immediate relief to prevent further exploitation of his personality. The development comes amid a widespread trend of celebrities moving to court to protect their personality rights against abuse on social media and e-commerce platforms. Courts in India have, in recent months, taken notice of such concerns, particularly in cases involving deepfakes, fake endorsements and unauthorized digital reproduction.
