Bollywood Icons Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Launch Legal Offensive Against Google Over AI Misuse
New Delhi– As artificial intelligence reshapes entertainment, prominent Bollywood figures are turning to courts to safeguard their public images. Leading the charge is the high-profile duo of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who have filed extensive lawsuits targeting Google’s YouTube platform for enabling unauthorized AI-generated content that violates their personality rights.
In separate but similar petitions submitted on September 6 to the Delhi High Court, the couple demands the removal and ban on AI videos that misuse their likenesses, voices, and personas. Going further, they seek court-mandated protections requiring Google to prevent these infringing uploads from being used to train competing AI systems. Court documents, examined by Reuters, highlight concerns that YouTube’s policies allowing creators to opt into data-sharing for AI development could amplify the spread of deceptive material.
India lacks specific legislation on personality rights, unlike several U.S. states, prompting a growing number of film stars to seek judicial remedies. The Bachchans’ cases stand out as the most prominent, spotlighting the dangers of deepfakes and misleading videos feeding into broader AI ecosystems.
The filings, totaling 1,500 pages, primarily address unauthorized merchandise from obscure vendors – including posters, mugs, stickers, and forged autographs featuring the actors. However, a significant portion zeroes in on YouTube, accusing it of hosting “egregious,” sexually suggestive, or fabricated AI clips. The couple is pursuing $450,000 (approximately Rs 4 crore) in damages from Google and related parties, alongside a permanent injunction to halt such violations.
In early September, the court directed the takedown of 518 specified web links and posts, citing damage to the actors’ finances, reputation, and dignity. Yet, Reuters identified comparable videos persisting on the platform, such as an AI-altered scene of Abhishek unexpectedly kissing a co-star, another portraying Aishwarya dining amiably with ex-partner Salman Khan while Abhishek glares, and a surreal clip of a crocodile pursuing Abhishek with Khan intervening.
YouTube’s guidelines permit creators to consent to video use in training models from firms like OpenAI, Meta, and xAI, noting limited control over third-party actions. The Bachchans contend this risks embedding false narratives into AI, perpetuating harm.
Eashan Ghosh, chair professor of intellectual property rights at National Law University Delhi, noted challenges in directly holding YouTube accountable, as primary fault lies with creators. Still, he suggested courts might encourage policy tweaks, like expedited reviews for celebrity complaints.
YouTube, which paid Indian creators over $2.4 billion in the past three years, remains India’s largest market with 600 million users, dominated by Bollywood fare. Managing Director Gunjan Soni recently called it “the new TV for India.” The next hearing is set for January 15, after Google submits responses.
A Reuters investigation uncovered the “AI Bollywood Ishq” channel, boasting 259 AI-crafted romance videos with 16.5 million views. Top clips, exceeding 4 million views, depict Khan and Aishwarya in intimate settings like a pool or swing. The channel’s tutorial reveals use of X’s Grok AI for images and MiniMax’s Hailuo AI for videos; a quick test produced a fight scene between Khan and Abhishek lookalikes.
No replies came from the Bachchans’ representatives, Google, Grok, MiniMax, or the channel owner, whose bio stresses “entertainment and creative storytelling.” Consent for AI training remains unclear.