In a big win for Telugu cinema star Nagarjuna Akkineni, the Delhi High Court has stepped in to protect his name and image from misuse. The court issued a temporary injunction that stops several companies and websites from using his likeness for commercial gain without permission.
Nagarjuna, a veteran actor with over 40 years in the industry and more than 95 films under his belt, filed the lawsuit to safeguard his personality rights. His legal team highlighted how he’s built massive goodwill and commercial value through his career. They argued that unauthorized use on websites, e-commerce sites, and social media could confuse fans, harm his reputation, and clash with his official endorsements.
The court, led by Justice Tejas Karia, took note of specific violations. Some defendants were posting pornographic content featuring Nagarjuna, while others sold T-shirts and merchandise with his image. Even worse, certain groups used AI tools and deepfakes to create inappropriate videos and images of the actor.
Justice Karia stressed the serious impact of such misuse. “The exploitation of one’s personality rights puts at risk not only their economic interests but also their right to live with dignity, potentially causing immeasurable harm to their reputation and goodwill,” the court stated.
To enforce the order, the judge gave platforms just 72 hours to remove, block, or disable the offending URLs. E-commerce sites must hand over basic details of the sellers involved within two weeks, in a sealed envelope for privacy. The court also directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to issue guidelines ensuring this infringing content stays off the internet.
The ruling makes it clear: portraying Nagarjuna in fake, derogatory, or misleading ways only damages his hard-earned brand. The case heads back to court on January 23, 2026, for the next round.
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