'Khamosh' no longer: Shatrughan Sinha seeks protection of personality rights, moves Bombay HC

Actor and Lok Sabha MP Shatrughan Sinha moved the Bombay High Court seeking protection of his personality rights, including his famous dialogue "Khamosh" (silence).

On Monday, a bench of Justice Sharmila Deshmukh heard the actor's plea and reserved its order on the interim relief sought by Sinha against websites and social media platforms for unauthorised use of his name, image and his signature punchline.

The 79-year-old veteran film star sought an interim injunction order against all such websites, restraining them from using his name, mannerisms, image, and persona.

Such misuse was violative of his fundamental rights, the former Union minister argued in his plea.

Sinha sought a permanent injunction against parties from using his name, voice, mannerisms, signature punchline 'Khamosh' and overall persona from any commercial exploitation without his consent.

The plea insisted the actor-politician has over the decades created substantial goodwill and commercial value in his persona and such misuse was causing grave damage to him.

Various other actors and actresses within the industry, such as Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Nagarjuna, Salman Khan, and R Madhavan, have moved courts as a move to protect rights to their personality, voice, mannerisms, and publicity to avoid commercial use of their identities as celebrities.

The artists stepped forward amid the growing use of artificial intelligence being used as means to mimic their distinct personality, that the public see on their screens. The courts involved have passed orders to restrain websites and platforms from illegally using names, images, AI-generated content and misappropriation of other aspects concerning their personalities.

Well-known figures outside of the cinema landscape have also sought protection of their personality rights, including Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Sadhguru.