May 14, 2024: Veteran Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff has taken a strong stance against the unauthorized use of his name, image, voice, and signature phrase “bhidu” for commercial purposes. On Tuesday, Shroff filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights. This move comes amidst growing concerns among celebrities regarding the exploitation of their image and likeness.
“This is a clear case of misuse of my rights,” Jackie Shroff‘s counsel was quoted as saying by PTI. The lawyer highlighted the sale of ringtones, wallpapers, and merchandise featuring the actor without his consent. He further objected to the creation and dissemination of “insulting” memes, GIFs, and content using artificial intelligence that exploits Shroff’s image and persona.
Jackie Shroff‘s legal team also raised concerns regarding the unauthorized trademark infringement of the Marathi word “bhidu” (meaning partner), which has become synonymous with the actor over the years. “Jackie Shroff is a household name,” the counsel emphasized. “People will be misled into believing these products are endorsed by him. He has a certain marketability, and his image cannot be used without his consent.”
The petition further alleges that online platforms are profiting from the sale of merchandise like mugs, signed posters, and bags bearing Shroff’s image without his permission. “They are all using his name and images to make a lot of money,” the lawyer stated. “This includes defamatory content and even voice-overs using vulgar language. There’s nothing legitimate about any of it.”
The court noted that some of the named defendants have already ceased their unauthorized use of Shroff’s personality traits following the filing of the lawsuit. Shroff’s legal team drew parallels with similar cases filed by actors Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor, who successfully sought legal protection for their personality rights in the Delhi High Court.
From Ringtones to Memes: Jackie Shroff Challenges Unauthorized Use; Court Summons Issued
Justice Sanjeev Narula, presiding over the case, issued summons to the entities named in the lawsuit. The matter has been listed for further hearing on Wednesday.
This lawsuit by Jackie Shroff marks a significant development in the ongoing conversation surrounding celebrity rights, and image protection in India. The outcome of this case will be closely watched by the film industry and may set a precedent for future legal battles concerning personality rights.
Jackie will be seen in the spy espionage movie Two Zero One Four alongside Akshay Oberoi. Directed by Shravan Tiwari, the film is scheduled to released this year. He also has the action thriller Baby John, directed by A Kaleeswaran, in the pipeline. The film will also star Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Rajpal Yadav in key roles.