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Delhi High Court Grants Interim Injunction to Bollywood Star Tabu Against Unauthorized Use of Identity on Digital Platforms
The Delhi High Court has issued an ex‑parte interim injunction protecting actress Tabu from the unauthorised use of her name, image, voice and other personality attributes across major digital platforms. The order, delivered by Justice Jyoti Singh on 6 July 2026, directs Google, Meta, X, Reddit, eBay and domain services such as GoDaddy to remove or disable more than 150 identified URLs that allegedly carry content infringing Tabu’s personality rights.
Tabu, whose real name is Tabassum Fatima Hashmi, has been a prominent figure in Indian cinema for more than three decades. She has received two National Film Awards, seven Filmfare Awards and the Padma Shri in 2011. The actress has millions of followers on social media, including about 3.2 million on Instagram, and has worked with several major brands. In her petition, Tabu alleged that her identity was being exploited online through fake event‑booking accounts, unauthorised merchandise, fabricated statements and AI‑generated or manipulated obscene material.
The court found that Tabu’s name and stage name ‘Tabu’, along with her likeness, voice and other distinguishing attributes, have acquired unique distinctiveness and are instantly associated with her by the public. Justice Singh held that Tabu had established a prima facie case for an interim injunction and that the balance of convenience lay in her favour. The court also noted that the alleged AI‑generated content, including deepfakes and face‑morphing videos, was being used to sensationalise material from her films and public appearances, thereby diluting her identity and generating commercial gain for third parties.
Under the injunction, the defendants are restrained from using, exploiting or misappropriating any attribute of Tabu’s personality without her consent. The order covers the use of her stage name, real name, voice recordings, signatures, initials, images, photographs and movie stills. It specifically prohibits the creation or distribution of AI‑generated, generative AI, machine‑learning, deepfake, face‑morphing and GIF content that could be linked to Tabu. The injunction applies to websites, mobile applications, social media, the Metaverse and other physical or virtual mediums.
The court directed Google to remove or disable 21 URLs in one set, eight URLs in another and five URLs in a third set within 36 hours of receiving the order. Meta was instructed to take down 73 URLs in Document‑A, 28 URLs in Document‑B and five URLs in Document‑C, also within 36 hours. X Corp. was ordered to remove three identified URLs, eBay to delete URLs numbered 15 to 20 in Document‑C, and Reddit to take down specified URLs within the same period. In addition, the court ordered the platforms and domain service providers to disclose Basic Subscriber Information and IP log details that could help Tabu identify the persons behind the accounts and content.
The injunction also covers an Instagram account that allegedly offered bookings for Tabu’s appearances and performances. The account, which had about 2,000 followers, used her name, images and video clips to create the impression of an association with her. Tabu has stated that she has no relationship with the account and has never authorised any bookings on her behalf.
The Delhi High Court registered the petition as a commercial suit and issued summons to the defendants. The remaining defendants were directed to file written statements within 30 days of receiving the summons. The court has also scheduled a discovery, production and inspection hearing for 7 December 2026. The interim injunction will remain in force until the next hearing, subject to further orders.
The order follows a growing trend of personality‑rights disputes in India, with the court previously addressing cases involving other public figures such as Anil Kapoor and Salman Khan. The decision underscores the court’s willingness to address the challenges posed by AI‑generated content and deepfakes in protecting the commercial and reputational interests of celebrities.
At present, the injunction is an interim measure and does not constitute a final ruling on the merits of Tabu’s claims. The next hearing will determine whether the court will grant a permanent injunction or take other remedial action.
Tabu, whose real name is Tabassum Fatima Hashmi, has been a prominent figure in Indian cinema for more than three decades. She has received two National Film Awards, seven Filmfare Awards and the Padma Shri in 2011. The actress has millions of followers on social media, including about 3.2 million on Instagram, and has worked with several major brands. In her petition, Tabu alleged that her identity was being exploited online through fake event‑booking accounts, unauthorised merchandise, fabricated statements and AI‑generated or manipulated obscene material.
The court found that Tabu’s name and stage name ‘Tabu’, along with her likeness, voice and other distinguishing attributes, have acquired unique distinctiveness and are instantly associated with her by the public. Justice Singh held that Tabu had established a prima facie case for an interim injunction and that the balance of convenience lay in her favour. The court also noted that the alleged AI‑generated content, including deepfakes and face‑morphing videos, was being used to sensationalise material from her films and public appearances, thereby diluting her identity and generating commercial gain for third parties.
Under the injunction, the defendants are restrained from using, exploiting or misappropriating any attribute of Tabu’s personality without her consent. The order covers the use of her stage name, real name, voice recordings, signatures, initials, images, photographs and movie stills. It specifically prohibits the creation or distribution of AI‑generated, generative AI, machine‑learning, deepfake, face‑morphing and GIF content that could be linked to Tabu. The injunction applies to websites, mobile applications, social media, the Metaverse and other physical or virtual mediums.
The court directed Google to remove or disable 21 URLs in one set, eight URLs in another and five URLs in a third set within 36 hours of receiving the order. Meta was instructed to take down 73 URLs in Document‑A, 28 URLs in Document‑B and five URLs in Document‑C, also within 36 hours. X Corp. was ordered to remove three identified URLs, eBay to delete URLs numbered 15 to 20 in Document‑C, and Reddit to take down specified URLs within the same period. In addition, the court ordered the platforms and domain service providers to disclose Basic Subscriber Information and IP log details that could help Tabu identify the persons behind the accounts and content.
The injunction also covers an Instagram account that allegedly offered bookings for Tabu’s appearances and performances. The account, which had about 2,000 followers, used her name, images and video clips to create the impression of an association with her. Tabu has stated that she has no relationship with the account and has never authorised any bookings on her behalf.
The Delhi High Court registered the petition as a commercial suit and issued summons to the defendants. The remaining defendants were directed to file written statements within 30 days of receiving the summons. The court has also scheduled a discovery, production and inspection hearing for 7 December 2026. The interim injunction will remain in force until the next hearing, subject to further orders.
The order follows a growing trend of personality‑rights disputes in India, with the court previously addressing cases involving other public figures such as Anil Kapoor and Salman Khan. The decision underscores the court’s willingness to address the challenges posed by AI‑generated content and deepfakes in protecting the commercial and reputational interests of celebrities.
At present, the injunction is an interim measure and does not constitute a final ruling on the merits of Tabu’s claims. The next hearing will determine whether the court will grant a permanent injunction or take other remedial action.
