Bollywood power couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have filed lawsuits in India seeking court protection of their voice, image, and likeness in the age of artificial intelligence. The legal action targets YouTube, owned by Google, for allegedly hosting AI-generated deepfake videos that infringe on their personality rights.
According to court filings reviewed, the actors are demanding that YouTube remove infringing videos and implement safeguards to prevent such content from being used to train other AI platforms. They are also seeking $450,000 in damages and a permanent injunction against further misuse of their personas.
The lawsuits highlight growing concerns in India over deepfake content and the lack of explicit laws on personality rights, unlike in several U.S. states. While some Indian celebrities have previously sought limited protections, the Bachchans’ case is the most high-profile yet and could set a precedent for digital rights in the country.
The filings allege that hundreds of videos on YouTube portray the actors in “egregious” or “sexually explicit” ways, causing harm to their dignity and financial interests. In early September, a Delhi court ordered the takedown of 518 links and posts flagged in the complaint.
India is YouTube’s largest market, with about 600 million users, and the platform is increasingly viewed as the country’s “new TV,” especially for Bollywood-related content. But the case raises difficult questions about platform liability, AI misuse, and the balance between free expression and celebrity protection.
In recent years, Indian courts have started siding with actors concerned about AI-generated content. In 2023, a Delhi court barred the unauthorized use of actor Anil Kapoor’s image, voice, and catchphrases. Observers say the Bachchans’ case could further accelerate legal debates over regulating deepfakes and AI training practices.
