The Bombay High Court has directed online platforms to remove deepfake videos, morphed images and other unauthorised content featuring actor Preity Zinta, ruling that the misuse of such material violates her fundamental rights.
According to Hindustan Times, a single-judge bench of Justice Madhav Jamdar passed the order on Wednesday while hearing Zinta’s petition seeking protection of her intellectual property and personality rights. The court also reminded online intermediaries of their obligations under the Information Technology Rules and stressed their responsibility to curb the spread of such content.
The court observed that online platforms must act against offenders instead of allowing their services to be misused. “If the intermediaries start taking action, such type of offenders will stop. Otherwise, you are part of affecting fundamental rights of the citizens of this country,” the court said. It ordered the immediate removal of all unauthorised videos and images of the actor and held that she had established a prima facie case, granting interim relief.
Zinta approached the Bombay High Court seeking the removal of fake and malicious content created using her likeness. Her petition referred to deepfake videos, morphed images and chatbot-style interactions that falsely depicted her.
Her counsel, Venkatesh Dhond, told the court that around 275 websites hosted AI-generated, morphed or superimposed images and videos using the actor’s likeness. He argued that the content violated her personality rights, publicity rights and moral rights.
In its ruling, the court noted that Zinta has spent more than 25 years in the film industry and built a valuable public identity through her work. It said the unauthorised use of her image, likeness and mannerisms in AI-generated content could damage her reputation and infringe her legal rights.
“The plaintiff’s personality rights, publicity rights and moral rights are violated by creation of such morphed and superimposed content,” the court observed. It further linked Zinta’s personality rights to her fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution, covering the Right to Freedom of Speech and the Right to Life and Personal Liberty.
Once among Bollywood’s highest-paid actors, Zinta stepped away from full-time acting after her marriage. She has appeared in only four films since 2008, with Bhaiaji Superhit marking her last full-length role. She is set to return to the big screen in 2026 with Sunny Deol-starrer Batwara 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. The film is scheduled to release on 14 August.
