Let’s be honest. When you hear that another celebrity is suing someone, it’s easy to tune out. Another day, another rich person problem, right? So when news broke that Abhishek Bachchan went to court to protect his “personality rights,” you probably scrolled right past it.
But this isn’t just about a movie star. I think this is one of those moments we’ll look back on as a turning point. Bachchan’s fight isn’t happening in a vacuum. It’s happening on the front lines of a war over our digital identities, and what’s decided in that courtroom could end up affecting you, me, and everyone we know. This is about who owns your face.
So, What’s Actually Going On?
In simple terms, Abhishek Bachchan walked into the Delhi High Court and asked for protection. Not from paparazzi, but from something far trickier. He’s trying to stop people from using his name, his face, his voice—his entire public persona—without his permission.
This sounds obvious. Of course, you can’t just slap a celebrity’s face on a product. But we’re not talking about cheap t-shirts anymore. We’re talking about AI.
His wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, did the same thing not too long ago and won. She got a court order to stop a bunch of websites from using her likeness in fake videos. Now it’s Abhishek’s turn. He’s filed a suit against the “world at large,” which is a legal way of saying he’s suing anyone and everyone who might misuse his identity. It’s a big move.
The Real Villain Isn’t a Person, It’s an Algorithm
Here’s where it gets a little scary. The reason we’re seeing these lawsuits pile up is because technology has gotten incredibly good at theft. Digital theft. Not of your money, but of you.
AI-powered deepfakes and voice cloning tools are no longer science fiction. They are cheap, easy to find, and getting better every single day. A few photos from your social media profile is all it takes to put your face in a video you never made. A short audio clip from a voice note can be enough to make “you” say things you never would.
Think about it for a second. Imagine seeing an online ad for a shady product, and you’re the one endorsing it. Or worse, your mom gets a frantic phone call from a voice that sounds exactly like yours, begging for money. It’s happening already. This is the new reality that technology has created, and the law is struggling to keep up. Suddenly, a celebrity’s problem doesn’t seem so distant, does it?
Our Old Laws Are Stuck in the Past
One of the biggest issues here is that our legal system wasn’t built for this. In India, there isn’t one single, clear law that says, “You own your personality.” It’s not like a copyright on a book or a patent on an invention. It’s a messy patchwork of different rights.
Lawyers have to pull from privacy laws, publicity rights, and other areas to build a case. It’s like trying to fix a modern car with a wrench from the 1950s. It sort of works, but it’s not the right tool for the job.
This is why these celebrity cases are such a big deal. When someone like Bachchan forces the issue, it pushes the courts to make new rules. They have to look at this new technology and decide how our old ideas of privacy and ownership apply. Every ruling creates a precedent, a new line in the sand. They are basically drawing the map for our digital future, one expensive lawsuit at a time.
Are the Bachchans Our Unlikely Digital Saviors?
It feels weird to say it, but maybe. Let’s face it, you and I don’t have the time or the money to take on an anonymous army of internet trolls or a tech company that’s using our data. The system just isn’t built for us.
But they can.
Celebrities have the resources to fight these battles on a massive scale. Their lawsuits force a public conversation and, more importantly, force the legal system to evolve. The protections they win for themselves can eventually trickle down and become the protections that are available to everyone. In a way, they’re the guinea pigs for a problem that will soon affect us all. When they fight for their digital ghost, they’re also, in a way, fighting for yours.
What Can You Even Do About It?
It’s easy to feel powerless, but there are a few things to keep in mind. In my experience, just being aware is the first step. Being more thoughtful about the photos and videos you share online is a start. Your digital footprint is the raw material for this technology.
But let’s be real. Personal responsibility only goes so far. The real solution has to be bigger. We need stronger, clearer laws that are designed for the internet age. Laws that recognize that your identity—your face, your voice, your mannerisms—is yours, and it has value.
The tech companies also need to be held accountable for the tools they build. It’s not good enough to release powerful AI into the world and then just shrug when it’s used for harm. There has to be some form of responsibility.
So the next time you see a headline about a celebrity suing over a deepfake, don’t just roll your eyes. Pay attention. It’s not just gossip. It’s a preview of the fight that’s coming for all of us. The question is, when it’s your face on the screen, who will be fighting for you?
