Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have initiated legal proceedings against Google and YouTube, seeking ₹4 crores in damages over the unauthorized use of their likenesses in AI-generated deepfake content.
The high-profile couple, who previously established their personality rights, allege that the technology platforms have failed to adequately prevent the spread of digitally manipulated content featuring their images and videos.
Concerns Over AI Training and Content Moderation
Reuters reports that the legal action challenges YouTube’s approach to content oversight and policies regarding third-party AI training. The lawsuit contends that current platform practices enable misuse, with court documents warning: “Such content being used to train AI models has the potential to multiply the instances of use of any infringing content — first being uploaded on YouTube and viewed by the public, and then also being used to train.”
Explicit Deepfakes Circulating Online
The complaint specifically addresses what it describes as “egregious” and “sexually explicit” manipulated videos proliferating across the internet. One channel identified in the filing, AI Bollywood Ishq, reportedly contains over 250 fabricated clips of various celebrities, with some videos attracting millions of views.
The problematic content allegedly includes doctored footage purporting to show Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with actor Salman Khan in intimate settings, as well as falsified clips of Abhishek Bachchan in manufactured scenarios depicting inappropriate behavior.
Legal Proceedings Underway
In recent proceedings, the Delhi High Court has instructed Google’s legal representatives to provide a comprehensive written statement. The case is set to continue with a hearing scheduled for January 15.
What’s Next for the Stars
Beyond the courtroom, Abhishek Bachchan has several professional commitments on the horizon. He’s preparing for King, a star-studded production featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan, Rani Mukerji, and Abhay Verma. He’s also involved in Raja Shivaji, a biographical film about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with Riteish Deshmukh playing the legendary ruler.
As for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, no new film projects have been publicly announced at this time.
