Frustrated director-producer approaches Court!

One of the top film makers in Bollywood film industry, Karan Johar has reportedly approached the Delhi High Court regarding his image rights and here is a look into the story.

According to the latest reports, Karan Johar has approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his “personality rights.”

He stated that his name, pictures, and identity are being misused on various websites and social media platforms. According to him, some people are even using his image for fundraising activities, which not only misrepresents him but also damages his reputation.

Johar’s counsel, senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, argued that a celebrity has the right to control how their face and name are used, especially if others are making money or gaining attention from it without permission.

He pointed out that viral memes and online content sometimes generate revenue by exploiting a public figure’s identity.

Representatives of Meta, however, said that not every post or comment about Johar is defamatory. Some are just fan expressions or harmless jokes. Advocate Varun Pathak also warned the court that imposing a blanket ban on jokes, memes, or comments could set a risky precedent and may curb free expression online.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora observed that there is a difference between harmless fan content, disparagement, and unauthorized commercial use of someone’s name. The matter will next be heard on Monday at 4 pm.