Actor Suniel Shetty has moved the Bombay High Court, filing a plea to protect his personality rights after discovering that multiple websites and social media pages were misusing his photos, and even pictures of his granddaughter, Evaraah, for commercial gain.
According to his petition, several online platforms have used his images and likeness without authorisation to promote businesses, including a real estate firm and a gambling website. The actor claimed that these posts falsely suggested his endorsement or association with the brands, which is entirely untrue.
Represented by senior advocate Birendra Saraf, Shetty requested the court to issue directives to all such platforms, asking them to take down the misleading content and to prohibit further use of his name, image, or likeness in any form.
Saraf told the court that fake and morphed images of the actor with his grandchild had been circulating online, further deepening concerns over privacy and reputation.
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The plea argues that Suniel Shetty, as a public figure, has the exclusive right to control how his image, personality, and reputation are used. Any unauthorized commercial use, he stated, amounts to a violation of his right to publicity and causes damage to his goodwill.
A single bench led by Justice Arif Doctor heard the matter on Friday and reserved its order. The court is expected to decide whether to grant interim protection and direct platforms to remove the infringing material.
This case adds to a growing wave of celebrity petitions in India aimed at curbing unauthorized exploitation of star identities online. Recently, actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, and Nagarjuna have also approached courts to safeguard their digital persona against fake advertisements, deepfakes, and impersonations.
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