The Delhi High Court declared celebrities cannot use personality rights to block coverage of their wrongdoing. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani explicitly stated there's no confidentiality or privacy around misconduct, even for public figures. This pushback comes as more high-profile individuals weaponize these rights to control public narratives and manage their image.
How We Got Here
Justice Bhambhani heard arguments from Janhvi Kapoor's counsel, Asav Rajan, on October 9. This case, along with similar suits by Vivek Oberoi and Aaradhya Bachchan, aims to define the scope of personality rights for public figures.
The Numbers
- Judge cited golfer Tiger Woods as an example of a celebrity whose troubles fans should know about.
- Justice Bhambhani stated public figures need "a thicker skin," noting they can't complain as easily as ordinary people if private conversations are overheard.
- Kapoor's counsel, Asav Rajan, argued personality rights belong to every person, not only celebrities, citing court rulings using "individual" and "person."
- Rajan clarified that Kapoor's claims are limited to AI-generated content, merchandise, and commercial misuse, not criticism.
- He also argued that public photo availability is "sphere-specific," not blanket consent for all reuse.
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For product managers building creator economy tools in Mumbai, this clarifies liability around user-generated content featuring public figures and potential misuse.
The Take
This verdict tells reputation management firms in Delhi they’ll need a new playbook: wrongdoing, even for celebrities, isn't something the courts will help bury. The public wins here.
Source:
MediaNama ↗