New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday indicated that it will issue interim directions to safeguard the personality rights of Malayalam actor Mohanlal in an ongoing legal case.
The matter was heard by Justice Jyoti Singh, who also permitted the actor to implead additional parties as defendants in the suit.
Revised plea submitted after earlier withdrawal
The development comes after an earlier hearing in which the Delhi High Court allowed Mohanlal to withdraw his initial interim application, granting him liberty to refile with more comprehensive details.
Acting on that liberty, the actor has now submitted a revised plea, seeking stronger legal protection against alleged misuse of his identity.
Court seeks details of alleged violations
During the latest proceedings, the bench directed Mohanlal to provide a detailed note identifying the allegedly infringing links and the parties involved.
The move aims to establish clarity on instances where his personality rights—such as name, image, voice, or likeness—may have been used without authorisation.
Growing trend of personality rights cases
The Delhi High Court has recently handled several similar cases involving unauthorised use of public figures’ identities, especially in the digital space.
It had earlier issued “John Doe” orders protecting the rights of personalities such as Sonakshi Sinha and Ramdev.
In comparable matters, courts have extended protection to singer Jubin Nautiyal, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, and actors Kajol, R. Madhavan, and Jr NTR.
A similar plea has also been filed by Salman Khan.
Additionally, relief has been granted in favour of figures such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Nagarjuna, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, and filmmaker Karan Johar.
More recently, journalist Sudhir Chaudhary and podcaster Raj Shamani also secured protection against alleged misuse of their identity, including AI-generated content.
Legal focus on digital misuse
Legal experts note that the increasing number of such cases reflects rising concerns over misuse of identities in the digital era, including through deepfakes, AI-generated videos, and unauthorised endorsements.
Courts have been proactive in issuing interim protections to prevent reputational damage while cases are under adjudication.
Upcoming projects of Mohanlal
On the professional front, Mohanlal has a busy schedule ahead. He will next be seen in the film “Patriot,” directed by Mahesh Narayanan, alongside Mammootty and Kunchacko Boban.
The political drama is slated for release on April 23, 2026, marking a rare collaboration between Mohanlal and Mammootty.
He is also working on projects such as “L366,” directed by Tharun Moorthy, and “Drishyam 3,” helmed by Jeethu Joseph, which is expected to continue the popular storyline of Georgekutty.
Conclusion
The interim protection granted by the Delhi High Court marks a significant step in safeguarding Mohanlal’s personality rights. The case highlights the growing legal focus on protecting public figures from unauthorised digital exploitation in an increasingly tech-driven landscape.
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