Naga Chaitanya Seeks Delhi High Court Protection Against Deepfakes and Identity Misuse
Telugu actor Naga Chaitanya filed a lawsuit in Delhi High Court seeking legal protection against AI-generated deepfakes, pornographic content, and defamatory posts using his identity without permission. The court granted interim relief and scheduled a hearing for September 2026.
What happened
Telugu actor Naga Chaitanya filed a suit in the Delhi High Court on 29 May 2026 seeking protection against unauthorised use of his identity across digital platforms.
The petition alleges misuse of his name, image and likeness through AI-generated content, pornographic material using his identity, unauthorised merchandise, and online posts falsely accusing him of cheating on former spouse Samantha Ruth Prabhu and damaging her career.
According to the petition, websites and online platforms paired the actor's name with explicit search terms to boost visibility and generate commercial benefits through objectionable and misleading content.
Reported impact
The actor's legal team argued that such practices constitute unauthorised exploitation of his personality rights and cause reputational harm.
The court acknowledged the unique challenges faced by public figures, noting that while celebrities are subject to greater public scrutiny, there are limits to what can be considered acceptable.
Governance controls
The Delhi High Court granted interim relief and an interim order aimed at safeguarding the actor's personality rights while the matter is examined, providing temporary protection against circulation of the disputed content online.
The next hearing is scheduled for 30 September 2026.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.