Hyderabad Court Stops Online Platforms from Misusing Chiranjeevi’s Name and Image
A city civil court in Hyderabad has granted interim protection to veteran Telugu actor Konidela Chiranjeevi, safeguarding his personality and publicity rights from unauthorised use.
On September 26, Chief Judge S Sasidhar Reddy issued an ad-interim injunction restraining more than 30 online entities from using Chiranjeevi’s name, image, voice, or likeness for any commercial or personal purpose without his consent. The order was passed in the case Konidela Chiranjeevi v. Mad Monkey Store.
The Court observed that Chiranjeevi — a Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awardee — is one of the most recognisable figures in the Telugu and South Indian film industries. Having acted since 1978, he has earned immense goodwill as an actor, philanthropist, and former politician.
The judge noted that titles and names such as “Mega Star,” “Chiru,” “Annayya,” “Boss,” and “Mega Star Chiru”, along with his image and voice, form an inseparable part of his personality and carry distinct commercial and reputational value.
The order cited that the actor’s rights are supported by existing judicial precedents that recognise personality rights as part of the right to privacy and reputation.
Chiranjeevi approached the court after discovering that several online platforms were selling merchandise, posters, and T-shirts featuring his images and film names without authorisation. He also alleged misuse of his likeness through AI-generated photographs, memes, and videos, which could harm his reputation or mislead the public into believing he endorsed such content.
The Court agreed that such misuse could cause irreparable damage to the actor’s reputation. The judge stated that AI-altered images and videos could easily be used not just for profit but also to spread political, anti-national, or inappropriate content, reinforcing the need for immediate protection.
Finding the balance of convenience in Chiranjeevi’s favour, the Court restrained the defendants (1 to 33 and 36) from using or exploiting his identity, image, name, or voice across any medium — including digital, electronic, or future AI-based platforms such as the Metaverse.
Considering the speed and scale of digital dissemination, the Court decided not to issue prior notice to most defendants, noting that any delay would defeat the purpose of the injunction.
However, interim relief was not granted against the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) due to the mandatory notice requirement under Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC).
The matter will be heard next on October 27.
Chiranjeevi was represented by advocates S Nagesh Reddy and Zainab Khan.
