An AI-made film, flashy and bold, suddenly landed in hot water after it allegedly used the face, name, and personality of Akira Nandan, the son of actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, without asking him first.
The controversy began when a studio named Sambhawaami Studios LLP uploaded a one-hour AI-generated movie on YouTube. The makers reportedly promoted it as the “world’s first global AI movie.”
The big hook? Akira Nandan was shown as the lead character even though he had never agreed to be part of it.
Akira, also known as Akira Desai, told the court that he never gave permission for his image, voice, or identity to be used.
According to him, the film went far beyond inspiration. It allegedly used AI morphing and deepfake technology to show him in scenes that were not just fake, but also personal and intimate.
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Why this was not just another online video
Justice Tushar Tao Gadela, who heard the case, made it clear this was not a small issue. The court noted that Akira belongs to a well-known family in the entertainment world of Andhra Pradesh. His identity, image, reputation already carry public weight.
The judge observed that the very act of making an AI movie with Akira as the hero showed how distinctive and recognisable his persona is. That, the court said, made the risk of misuse even higher.
One of the most troubling claims in the case was about fabricated romantic and intimate scenes involving Akira. His legal team argued that these scenes were created without consent and could cause long-lasting damage to his name and image.
The court agreed that such content could seriously harm a person’s reputation. It said this kind of injury cannot be fixed with money. Once a public image is damaged, it is very hard to repair.
The judge called the possible harm “irreparable,” meaning it cannot easily be undone.
Privacy, personality, and the law
This case wasn’t just about one video. It opened a bigger conversation about how AI is being used and misused.
Akira argued that the AI film violated several legal rights, including his right to privacy, personality rights, publicity rights, moral rights. The court also noted concerns that such content could mislead innocent viewers.
The Delhi High Court passed an ex parte ad-interim order. This means the decision was made urgently without waiting for all sides to be heard in detail.
The court ordered the immediate removal of the AI film from all platforms. This included the full movie, short clips, promotional videos and any related content shared on websites or social media.
The studio and all related parties were restrained from using Akira’s name, image, voice, mannerisms, or any identifiable traits again especially through AI, generative AI, machine learning, or deepfake technology.
The order also pulled in Meta Platforms, the company behind Facebook and Instagram. The court directed Meta to inform users who uploaded the infringing content and give them 72 hours to remove it.
If the users fail to do so, Meta must step in and take the content down itself.
The court also extended its restraint to unknown parties, often referred to as “John Doe” defendants, ensuring that no one else tries to use Akira’s identity in a similar way.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on February 5.