Delhi HC Passed an Order Protecting Personality Rights of Telugu Actor Akkineni Nagarjuna

It is most refreshing, most reassuring, most reinvigorating and most rejuvenating to learn that none other than the Delhi High Court itself in a most learned, laudable, landmark, logical and latest judgment titled Akkineni Nagarjuna VS Www.BFXXX.Org & Ors in CS(COMM) 1023/2025 that was pronounced as recently as on 25.09.2025 has passed an interim order protecting the personality rights of Telugu actor Akkineni Nagarjuna thus ruling in his favour by restraining rightly various entities from misusing his image, name, voice or other elements of his persona for monetary gains without his consent or authorization.

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It must be noted that the Single Judge Bench comprising of Hon'ble Mr Justice Tejas Karia who authored this most commendable, courageous, cogent and creditworthy judgment minced absolutely just no words to hold in no uncertain terms that Nagarjuna’s name, image, likeness and persona have acquired a unique distinctiveness and any third party found using any elements of his persona is bound to cause confusion and deception amongst the general public regarding affiliation with/sponsorship.

We need to note that the Bench also maintained and acknowledged that “prima facie” it was clear that the attributes of the actor's persona, including his name and images are being misused by various online handles/entities, without any authorization from him. The Bench thus very rightly granted him the relief which he sought from the Delhi High Court. It must also be borne in mind that the interim order will remain in force till January 23 2026, when the court will next hear the matter. At the very outset, this brief, brilliant, bold and balanced judgment authored by the Single Judge Bench comprising of Hon'ble Mr Justice Tejas Karia of the Delhi High Court sets the ball in motion by first and foremost putting forth precisely in para 19 that, “Issue Summons. The Learned Counsel for Defendant Nos. 13 and 14 accepts Summons.”

As we see, the Bench then mentions in para 34 that, “Issue Notice. The Learned Counsel for Defendant Nos. 13 and 14 accepts Notice.”

No doubt, the Bench then very rightly directs in para 35 holding that, “Notice be served to all the remaining Defendants through all permissible modes upon filing of the Process Fees.”

While laying bare the purpose of the suit filed, the Bench then discloses in para 36 stating that, “The Present Suit has been filed by the Plaintiff, inter alia, seeking permanent injunction restraining misappropriation of personality/publicity rights, infringement of performer's rights and passing off.”