Akshay Kumar Deepfake Video: Bombay HC Orders Removal, Cites ‘Alarming’ Public Threat

In a landmark ruling underscoring the grave dangers posed by advanced artificial intelligence technology, the Bombay High Court has ordered the immediate removal of an AI-generated video featuring Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar in the role of Maharishi Valmiki. The court described the deepfake content as “truly alarming” and “deeply concerning,” emphasizing that its dissemination presents a serious threat not only to the actor’s rights but also to wider public peace.

The ruling comes as an ad-interim relief in a comprehensive commercial intellectual property rights infringement suit filed by the actor, seeking to restrain various platforms and unknown persons (John Doe) from misusing his personality rights, including his name, voice, image, and likeness through AI-generated content and deepfake videos.

Alarming Sophistication of Deepfakes

Justice Arif S Doctor, presiding over the case, made strong observations regarding the frightening realism of the manipulated media being circulated. “What is truly alarming in a number of these cases is the realistic nature of deep fake images/videos that are being created by using Artificial Intelligence (AI),” the order noted. The judge stressed that the morphing is so “sophisticated and deceptive” that it is “virtually impossible to discern that the same are not genuine images/videos of the Plaintiff.”

The specific AI-generated clip in question, which falsely depicted Kumar as Maharishi Valmiki in a non-existent film trailer, was highlighted by the court for its volatile potential. Even more perturbing was a version of the deepfake that allegedly showed the actor making communally inflammatory statements and remarks about Rishi Valmiki.

Threat to Public Order and Personal Safety

The Bombay High Court stressed that such content must be removed immediately, citing reasons that go beyond individual intellectual property. Justice Doctor cautioned about the severe consequences of the video’s circulation.

“The consequences that can arise from such content being disseminated are indeed most grave and serious,” the court observed. “Apart from violating and affecting the plaintiff’s personality and moral rights, such videos also pose a grave threat to the safety and well-being of the plaintiff’s family members and can also have an adverse and widespread impact on society and public order, which clearly appears to be the agenda of those who create [them].”

The judge concluded that the content “needed to be removed from the public domain immediately, not only in the interest of the plaintiff but also in the larger public interest.” The court has since directed social media platforms and other defendant websites to take down or remove access to the infringing material.

A Growing Legal Front Against AI Misuse

The lawsuit filed by Akshay Kumar sought protection against the large-scale and unauthorised commercial exploitation of his persona, including not just the deepfakes but also counterfeit merchandise, deceptive advertisements, and voice cloning on platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Senior advocate Birendra Saraf, representing the actor, cited other examples of misuse, including a fake movie trailer showing Kumar as a Chief Minister, which had garnered millions of views before its eventual removal.

This decision marks a significant development in India’s nascent legal battle against the misuse of deepfake technology, especially in the context of celebrity and public figure impersonation. Akshay Kumar joins a growing list of Indian celebrities, including veteran singer Asha Bhosle and actor Suniel Shetty, who have recently secured similar ad-interim protections from the Bombay High Court to safeguard their personality rights against the rapidly escalating threat of AI manipulation. The court is scheduled to hear the matter again in November.