Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has moved the Delhi High Court seeking legal protection against the alleged unauthorised commercial use of her name, image, likeness and other elements associated with her identity. 

Justice Vikas Mahajan is scheduled to hear the plea on Thursday.

Ranaut, who has appeared in several Hindi films and is currently a Member of Parliament, has asked the court to intervene over what she alleges is the unauthorised exploitation of her personality and publicity rights for commercial purposes.

What are personality rights?

Personality rights broadly refer to an individual's right to control the commercial use of distinctive aspects of their identity. These can include a person's name, photograph, voice, likeness, signature and other recognisable characteristics associated with their public persona.

Indian courts have increasingly dealt with such claims, particularly in cases involving actors and other prominent public figures whose identities have commercial value.

Delhi High Court's earlier celebrity rights cases

The Delhi High Court has previously intervened in cases involving the alleged unauthorised use of celebrities' identities.

In proceedings involving veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, the court granted protection to his personality and publicity rights and restricted unauthorised commercial use of his name, image, voice and likeness.

Actor Anil Kapoor has also received similar protection from the court. In his case, the court addressed several elements of his persona, including his name, image, likeness, voice and distinctive expressions, and restrained unauthorised commercial exploitation of these attributes.

The court has also dealt with personality-rights claims involving actors and singers such as Rajinikanth, Jackie Shroff, Arijit Singh and Sonu Nigam in separate proceedings concerning the alleged misuse of their identities or recognisable persona.

Public identity versus commercial exploitation

Courts have generally distinguished between legitimate public discussion of a celebrity and the commercial use of their identity.

Being a public figure does not prevent a person's professional activities or public life from being reported, discussed or commented upon. However, the commercial use of distinctive elements of a person's identity without permission can raise questions of personality and publicity rights.

Ranaut's latest plea comes against this broader legal backdrop, with the actor and MP seeking the court's protection over the alleged exploitation of attributes associated with her persona.