Janhvi Kapoor’s Delhi High Court case has sparked a question that goes far beyond one actress: can Bollywood stars enjoy the visibility that comes with fame while controlling how that fame is used online?
The court ordered the removal of obscene AI-generated content, deepfakes, fake accounts and commercial exploitation of Kapoor’s identity. But it refused to ban fan pages, observing that public figures cannot expect complete control over online fandom.
Justice Mini Pushkarna put it bluntly: “You don’t want fans? It is the digital world. You will find yourself living in a cave.” That is the paradox. Actors want fans, virality and constant digital visibility because visibility sells films, endorsements and relevance. They also want protection from the misuse of their faces, voices and identities, which is a completely valid demand.
The question is whether that misuse is an unavoidable consequence of celebrity culture.
Vulgar edits, fake images, AI-generated videos and sensational content often generate enormous engagement online. That engagement can spread faster than any official campaign and, ironically, may even add to a celebrity’s reach and following.
The court appears to have drawn a line between fraud and fandom. Deepfakes, impersonation, pornography and unauthorized commercial exploitation deserve protection. Fan pages, parody and public commentary cannot automatically be treated as legal violations.
Jackie Shroff, who has himself fought a personality-rights battle, accepts that there are limits. “You can prevent the misuse of your face and voice, but you can’t stop fan pages celebrating their favourite stars.”
Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt believes the bigger challenge is still ahead. “We need clear guardrails, consent, labelling and fair use of likeness before AI starts replacing real performers.”
This debate did not begin with Janhvi. Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff have all approached courts seeking protection for their names, voices and images in the age of AI and social media. The real question now is simple, can actors enjoy fandom without also facing its darker side?
Khushi joins the legal battle:
Just a day after Janhvi Kapoor’s case, Khushi Kapoor also approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of her personality rights. The court ordered the takedown of allegedly obscene and pornographic content and unauthorized merchandise using her name, image and likeness, and indicated it would grant a John Doe order against unknown offenders.
