Renowned Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan has recently become the center of attention as the Delhi High Court issued an interim order preventing the unauthorized use of his ‘photo, voice, and name.’ The court emphasized that Bachchan’s global recognition by face could result in ‘irreparable loss and harm’ and tarnish his reputation.
The court stated, “The plaintiff is aggrieved by the defendants using his celebrity status to promote their own goods and services without his permission or authorization. Having considered the plaint, I am of the opinion that a prima facie case is made out.”
Advocate Harish Salve, representing Amitabh Bachchan, shed light on the reasons behind seeking this restraining order. He highlighted instances where mobile app developers illicitly associated lotteries with “Kaun Banega Crorepati” (KBC), unlawfully using Bachchan’s name and image in various businesses, including book publishing and T-shirt sales.
Salve revealed the alarming extent of the issue, citing examples such as a lottery in Gujarat blatantly copying the KBC logo with Bachchan’s photos, posing as a scam without actual winners. He also mentioned deceptive video call facilities claiming to feature the superstar.
Amitabh Bachchan and his legal team aimed to safeguard his image, citing the unlawful infringement of his personality and publicity rights. These rights enable individuals to control the commercial use of their name, image, and identity. Following the court order, the telecom ministry was directed to remove all violated content flagged by Bachchan’s team and report the violators.
Fraudulent activities involving scam calls using Amitabh Bachchan’s voice have been prevalent. Scammers trick people into depositing large sums under false pretenses of winning a KBC lottery or gaining a chance to be on the KBC hot seat, leading to financial fraud. The actor has previously warned viewers during episodes of KBC about such scams.
This legal move aligns with previous instances where Bachchan took action to protect his image, such as sending a legal notice to a pan masala brand in 2020 for airing commercials despite contract termination. He withdrew from the Kamla Pasand campaign to support anti-tobacco efforts. Additionally, in 2017, Bachchan threatened legal action against AAP leader Kumar Vishwas for copyright infringement related to a poem recitation.