Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan have taken YouTube and its parent company Google to court, filing a lawsuit seeking Rs 4 crore in damages.
The couple has alleged that the platform hosted “egregious” AI-generated deepfake videos that misused their names, voices, and images.
The September 6 petition demands that the videos be taken down right away and that such content be prohibited going forward. Additionally, it calls for stronger protections to prevent their image from being used to train artificial intelligence models, which is a developing issue in the digital sphere.
Videos That Are Deepfake Incite Outrage
A channel named "AI Bollywood Ishq" posted over 259 manipulated clips, garnering over 16.5 million views, according to court documents examined by Reuters.
One of the videos allegedly shows Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with Salman Khan in a fabricated pool scene. Another places Abhishek Bachchan in unrealistic situations — including kissing an actress or reacting angrily to altered footage involving his wife.
Concerns Over AI Training
The couple also flagged YouTube’s policy that lets creators permit their content to be used for AI training. They argue this loophole worsens the problem, as manipulated clips could be multiplied and re-circulated through AI systems.
"Such content being used to train AI models has the potential to multiply the instances of use of any infringing content i.e. first being uploaded on YouTube being viewed by the public, and then also being used to train," the petition stated.
Lack of Personality Rights Law in India
Unlike the United States, India does not yet have a robust legal framework to protect “personality rights” — an individual’s right to control the commercial use of their image and voice.
The Bachchans' lawsuit stands out as one of the most well-known attempts to directly address AI-generated content, even though a few Bollywood celebrities have previously taken limited legal action.
According to experts in digital law, this case may mark a turning point in the way Indian courts address the intersection of platform accountability, AI technology, and celebrity rights.
The Significance of This
The lawsuit, which reflects growing concern over deepfakes and the misuse of AI in entertainment industry, follows a Delhi High Court order safeguarding the couple's image rights.
The Bachchans' action is likely to exacerbate the discussion about how much accountability social media behemoths should take, as AI-generated content is spreading more quickly than platforms can monitor.
For now, the couple is clear: they want accountability, stricter policies, and an end to what they call “a dangerous precedent” in AI misuse.
Also read: Zubeen Garg's wife Garima Garg makes Big Reveal, says 'He was forcefully taken'
FAQs
Q1: Why did Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan sue YouTube?
They filed a Rs 4 crore lawsuit against YouTube and Google for hosting AI-generated deepfake videos misusing their names and images.
Q2: What type of content was involved?
Videos included sexually explicit and fabricated clips, including fake pool scenes and manipulated footage involving both actors.
Q3: What does this mean for AI regulation in India?
The case highlights the absence of specific personality rights laws and could push for stricter regulation of AI-generated content.
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