The Madras High Court on Monday extended interim protection to veteran actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan, restraining unidentified persons and online platforms from commercially exploiting or circulating morphed and AI-generated images using his likeness. The order came in a John Doe suit filed by the actor to safeguard his personality rights in an era of rapidly evolving digital tools.
Background of the Case
Haasan, 71, approached the Madras High Court complaining that his name, initials, portraits, screen titles such as “Ulaganayagan,” and famous film dialogues were being used without consent. The plaint cited a Chennai-based firm, Neeye Vidai, allegedly selling T-shirts and shirts printed with his image and identifiers.
Through his counsel, the actor sought a permanent injunction not only against the named firm but also against unknown entities-commonly referred to as John Doe defendants-who were said to be indulging in similar acts across digital and physical marketplaces.
Haasan told the court that such unauthorised use falsely suggested endorsement, diluted the value of his persona, and exposed him to reputational harm. He also flagged the growing misuse of artificial intelligence, including deepfakes and face morphing, as a serious threat to individual dignity and commercial interests.
Senior Advocate Satish Parasaran, appearing for Haasan, submitted that the violations took two broad forms: commercial exploitation and harmful online content. Merchandise bearing the actor’s image and name was allegedly being sold for profit without permission, while AI-generated and morphed visuals were circulating on social media, sometimes depicting him in inappropriate contexts.
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Parasaran clarified that the suit was not aimed at stifling free expression. Non-commercial use and legitimate creative works, he said, were not the target. “The grievance arises when content crosses the line into unauthorised monetisation or causes harm to dignity,” he argued, adding that many infringers remained anonymous, necessitating a John Doe action.
Court Observation
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy noted that the materials placed before the court demonstrated a strong case for interim relief. After examining sample products and online content, the court held that the actor had established a prima facie violation of his personality rights.
“Upon examining the above, a strong prima facie case is made out,” the bench observed, restraining the respondents from creating false or morphed images of the plaintiff and depicting them through any media until the next date of hearing.
The court also took note of the commercial angle, observing that unauthorised merchandise and monetised content could mislead the public into believing that the actor had endorsed such products.
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The Decision
Granting interim relief, the High Court restrained unknown persons and platforms from commercially exploiting Kamal Haasan’s name, image, likeness, and screen titles without his consent or endorsement. The order also bars the sale of merchandise carrying his persona during the pendency of the proceedings.
At the same time, the court drew a clear boundary. “This order will not, however, stand in the way of caricature, satire or other forms of permissible creative expression,” Justice Ramamoorthy clarified, ensuring that legitimate artistic expression remains protected.
Given the presence of John Doe defendants, the court directed that the order be published in a widely circulated English daily to notify potential infringers. The matter will be taken up again on the next date of hearing.
Case Title: Kamal Haasan vs Neeye Vidai & Others
Case No.: Not specified (John Doe suit)
Case Type: Civil Suit – Personality Rights
Decision Date: January 12, 2026
