The Delhi High Court today explored the question of who qualifies as a celebrity in personality rights cases, amid suits filed by actors Janhvi Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, and Aaradhya Bachchan. The court appointed advocates Rohan Alva and Gautam Bhatia as amici curiae to help frame legal principles for these cases, which will guide decisions on pending suits involving personality rights, according to medianama.com.
Advocate Rohan Alva, after reviewing about 65 Delhi HC decisions on personality rights, proposed that courts require celebrities to categorize their claims into five types, each with a different legal standard. Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, hearing the cases, questioned the scope of celebrity status, asking how many people must recognize someone before they qualify and whether the nature of their actions affects their status. He cited the example of a village sarpanch known locally but not nationally to illustrate the challenge of defining celebrity.
This inquiry is significant as it addresses the legal ambiguity surrounding personality rights enforcement in India. The court’s effort to establish clear criteria could impact how courts handle claims by public figures and others with localized fame. The approach contrasts with existing practices that often apply a broad and inconsistent standard, affecting the protection of personal image and reputation in media and advertising contexts.
The court will apply the principles developed by the amici curiae to the three current suits and other pending cases, setting a precedent for future personality rights litigation in India, medianama.com reported.