Bollywood icon Anil Kapoor is the only Indian celebrity to be featured in Time’s Top 100 in the realm of Artificial Intelligence

Time magazine has released its list of the 100 most influential figures in the field of Artificial Intelligence, and Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor stands out as the only Indian actor to make the prestigious cut.

Alongside him are entrepreneurs, scientists, tech leaders, and a few notable artists. Many may wonder why Anil Kapoor has been included, but the reasoning dates back to a significant legal battle he fought last year, concerning the unauthorized use of his name, image, and likeness.

In a landmark ruling by the Delhi High Court, several websites and platforms were restrained from misusing Anil Kapoor’s persona for commercial purposes.

This came after the actor filed a lawsuit, accusing these platforms of exploiting his celebrity status without permission. The violations included the unauthorized sale of merchandise, the use of his photograph for promotional purposes, and the morphing of his image in offensive ways.

His iconic “jhakaas” catchphrase, a well-known expression of enthusiasm from the 1985 film Yudh, was also misused.

Anil Kapoor’s legal team argued that while free speech is protected, there is a clear line when it comes to damaging someone’s reputation for profit. The court agreed, stating that while fame brings advantages, it can also lead to exploitation. The ruling emphasized that such misuse can harm a celebrity’s endorsement rights and tarnish their reputation.

Anil Kapoor’s battle over his digital likeness has drawn parallels to the recent fight by SAG-AFTRA members in Hollywood, who were also pushing back against the unauthorized use of AI-generated replicas of actors without consent. Anil Kapoor’s victory, delivered in September last year, was seen as a major win for personality rights, especially in a digital era where AI misuse is rampant.

After receiving the honour of being Time TOP 100/AI, Anil Kapoor took to his Instagram handle to show gratitude. He posted a picture of being in the top 100 with other top influential people and captioned the post, "With immense gratitude and a humble heart, I find myself among the visionaries shaping the future of Artificial Intelligence. This recognition by TIME is not just an honor, but a moment of reflection on the journey of innovation and creativity. Thank you for recognizing this endeavor @time !"

Anil Kapoor, known for his role in the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire and countless Bollywood hits, became a trailblazer in this realm. He told Variety, “Every actor has the right to protect themselves,” reflecting the increasing urgency for celebrities to safeguard their digital identities. His case involved a large number of AI-generated distorted videos, gifs, and emojis that flooded the internet, using his image without consent.

The ruling prevented 16 defendants from profiting off Anil Kapoor’s persona in any form, including creating merchandise, ringtones, or any commercial content based on his image, voice, or likeness.

This victory also comes at a crucial moment for Bollywood, one of the largest film industries in the world, producing over 1,500 films annually. AI misuse has become a growing issue, with deepfake videos of prominent Indian actresses like Alia Bhatt and Rashmika Mandanna circulating online. AI-generated content featuring Indian actors like Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh further raised alarms, especially when it was used to create political propaganda during the country's election.

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Anil Kapoor’s legal win has paved the way for other celebrities to seek protection over their persona. Following in his footsteps, popular Indian singer Arijit Singh also sought relief, winning a case in July when unauthorized platforms used AI to replicate his voice without consent. The Bombay High Court ruled in Arijit Singh’s favor, reinforcing the need to regulate AI platforms that exploit celebrity images and voices.

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On professional front, Anil Kapoor is set to appear next in the action-packed drama Subedaar, directed by Suresh Triveni.