The Delhi High Court has granted Bollywood actor Tabu an ex-parte interim injunction protecting her personality and publicity rights, in a significant ruling that also addresses the growing misuse of artificial intelligence to manipulate celebrity images and videos.

Justice Jyoti Singh, hearing a petition filed by Tabu, directed several major digital platforms, including Google, Meta, X and Reddit, to remove or disable access to more than 150 identified URLs allegedly carrying unauthorised and objectionable content involving the actor. The order also includes directions to certain platforms and domain service providers to share Basic Subscriber Information and IP log details that could help identify individuals behind the disputed accounts and content.

Tabu had approached the court alleging that her identity and public persona were being exploited online without her consent. Her complaints covered a range of alleged violations, from fake event-booking accounts and unauthorised merchandise to fabricated statements and digitally manipulated content.

The court observed that Tabu’s name and stage name, along with her image, voice, likeness and other distinctive attributes, have acquired a unique identity in the public consciousness. It found that the actor had established a prima facie case for interim protection and that she could suffer irreparable harm if the alleged misuse continued.

Court takes note of AI-generated obscene content

One of the more serious allegations concerned AI-generated obscene images, videos and GIFs that allegedly used material taken from Tabu’s films, interviews and public appearances.

According to the plaint, portions of movie scenes had allegedly been edited, slowed down or zoomed in to emphasise intimate moments before being circulated online. Tabu’s case was that such material was being sensationalised and used to drive traffic and generate revenue.

The court took a particularly serious view of the alleged practice, observing that the dissemination of deliberately manipulated material, including AI-generated videos, could cause irreparable damage to Tabu’s goodwill, reputation and commercial value.

The interim order restrains the defendants, including unidentified John Does, from using, exploiting or misappropriating any attribute of Tabu’s personality or publicity rights without her consent. The protection extends to her stage name, real name Tabassum Jamal Hashmi, voice recordings and duplications, signatures and initials, photographs, images and movie stills.

Crucially, the order specifically covers misuse through AI, Generative AI, Machine Learning, deepfakes, face morphing and GIFs. The restrictions apply across websites, mobile applications, social media platforms, the Metaverse and other physical or virtual spaces.

The court also referred to previous Delhi High Court decisions recognising personality rights, including D.M. Entertainment v. Baby Gift House, Anil Kapoor v. Simply Life India and Jaikishan Kakubhai Saraf v. Peppy Store. The court noted that unauthorised commercial exploitation of a celebrity’s distinctive identity can result not only in commercial loss but also affect privacy, personality and the individual’s right to live with dignity.

Another issue before the court was an online publication carrying a statement allegedly attributed to Tabu that she categorically denied making. Despite clarifications reportedly being issued to leading newspapers, the material allegedly remained online. The court described its continued publication as an “egregious act” and directed the concerned publisher to remove the statement from all its platforms within three days of receiving the order.

Google, Meta, X and Reddit directed to take down content

The court has issued detailed directions to some of the world’s largest digital platforms. Google has been ordered to remove or disable 21 URLs in one set, eight in another and five in a third, while Meta has been directed to act against 73 URLs in Document-A, 28 in Document-B and five in Document-C. X has been directed to remove three identified URLs, while eBay and Reddit have also been ordered to take down specified material.

The platforms have been given 36 hours from receipt of the order to comply with the relevant directions.

Tabu’s petition also raised concerns over an Instagram account allegedly offering bookings for her appearances and performances. The actor claimed she had no connection with the account and had never authorised anyone to arrange bookings on her behalf. The account, which allegedly had around 2,000 followers, was accused of using her name, photographs and videos to create an impression of an association.

The case also covers allegedly unauthorised merchandise featuring Tabu’s photographs, including mugs, posters, calendars, hoodies and sweatshirts. Her counsel argued that such products effectively created an unauthorised commercial association with the actor and exploited the value attached to her public persona.

The Delhi High Court’s order therefore goes beyond simply asking platforms to remove specific pieces of content. By expressly extending protection to AI-generated material, deepfakes, voice duplication and other emerging technologies, it underlines the growing legal challenge celebrities face in protecting their identities in an increasingly synthetic digital landscape.

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Salman Khan has announced that his international film, 7 Dogs, will finally hit Indian theatres on August 21. The superstar took to his Instagram Story to make the announcement. Made by the Belgian-Moroccan directorial duo Bilall Fallah and Adil El Arbi, who are known for the 2020 blockbuster Bad Boys for Life, 7 Dogs (Seven Dogs) was released in the Middle East earlier this year. While the action crime thriller received acclaim upon release, fans had been wondering when the film would get an Indian release. With Salman’s official announcement, fans are glad to learn that 7 Dogs is finally arriving on Indian silver screens.

Salman and Sanjay Dutt’s cameos

Starring Karim Abdel-Aziz and Ahmed Ezz in the lead roles, 7 Dogs also features Salman Khan in an extended but crucial cameo. Sanjay Dutt will also appear in a significant role, giving the film an additional Bollywood connection. Although their appearances are brief, they are expected to play an important role in driving the narrative.

From the Indian market’s perspective, Salman Khan remains the biggest box-office pull for 7 Dogs. His presence is expected to form a significant part of the film’s Indian promotional campaign. Interestingly, the film was initially supposed to release in India earlier this year, in May, alongside its Arabic release. Indian fans, however, will now be able to catch it on the big screen this August.

About 7 Dogs

7 Dogs is a 2026 Saudi Arabian-Egyptian action thriller that blends high-octane, Hollywood-style action with a buddy-cop crime caper. The plot unfolds after an Interpol agent teams up with a member of an organised crime syndicate to form an unlikely alliance against a transnational criminal network and halt a dangerous drug ring. Upon its release in the last week of May, the film became a major box-office success, grossing over $7 million in its opening weekend across the Middle East and North Africa.

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Vismaya Mohanlal has begun her big-screen journey on a strong commercial note. Jude Anthany Joseph’s Thudakkam has reportedly registered the highest opening-day worldwide gross for a female-led Malayalam film, edging past Kalyani Priyadarshan’s Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra.

According to figures from box office tracker Sacnilk, Thudakkam earned an estimated Rs 2.55 crore net in India on its opening day, with the film playing across 1,102 shows. Its India gross was estimated at Rs 2.96 crore, while the film added another Rs 3.90 crore from overseas markets. This puts its estimated worldwide opening at Rs 6.86 crore.

The figure gives Thudakkam a narrow lead over Lokah: Chapter 1 – Chandra, which opened with a worldwide gross of Rs 6.63 crore. The Kalyani Priyadarshan-led superhero film had a stronger showing in India, collecting an estimated Rs 2.70 crore net and Rs 3.13 crore gross from 1,360 shows on its first day. Its overseas haul stood at Rs 3.50 crore.

The difference between the two films ultimately came from their overseas performance. While Lokah registered the better India numbers on Day 1, Thudakkam’s international gross was higher by around Rs 40 lakh, allowing the Jude Anthany Joseph directorial to claim the record.

Vismaya’s debut draws strong interest

The opening is significant given the attention surrounding Vismaya’s transition into acting. The daughter of Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, Vismaya takes centre stage in Thudakkam, which places her character in a dangerous situation where survival depends on her ability to respond to increasingly difficult circumstances.

Directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, the film blends elements of family drama and thriller as it follows a young woman pushed into a fight-or-flight situation. The narrative centres on themes of courage, resilience and hope, with the protagonist forced to make choices that have consequences for her and those around her.

The film’s commercial prospects had also been closely watched ahead of release, given the combination of Vismaya’s debut, Mohanlal’s presence in the cast and Jude’s profile following the success of 2018.

Thudakkam also marks the acting debut of Aashish Joe Antony, son of producer Antony Perumbavoor, who has a prominent role in the film. The cast additionally features Mohanlal, Sai Kumar, Bobby Kurian, Manoj K Jayan, Ganesh Kumar, Aswin, Essa, Kottayam Ramesh, Jaya Kurup and Jaffar Idukki.

Thudakkam gains momentum after opening day

The film’s early trajectory has shown signs of growth beyond its opening-day performance. According to subsequent box office estimates, Thudakkam recorded a sizeable increase on its second day, taking its India net total to Rs 6.05 crore and its overseas collection to Rs 8.40 crore.

By its third day, the film reportedly collected Rs 4.25 crore in India, taking its India net beyond the Rs 10 crore mark, while its overseas gross reached Rs 11.40 crore.

The early numbers suggest that the film has managed to convert the curiosity surrounding Vismaya’s debut into audience footfalls, particularly in overseas markets. It also gives Thudakkam an early distinction in Malayalam cinema, with its opening now standing ahead of Lokah among female-led films.

For Vismaya, the response marks an encouraging beginning to what could be an interesting new chapter in her career. With Thudakkam now gaining momentum through its opening weekend, the film’s ability to sustain that interest in the coming days will determine how significant the debut ultimately becomes at the box office.

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