The Delhi High Court is likely to grant interim relief to filmmaker Karan Johar in his ongoing case to protect his personality rights. The court has verbally indicated that it intends to issue an interim injunction in Johar's favor, acknowledging his right to control the use of his name, image, and voice. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora stated on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, that she would pass a detailed order regarding the interim relief application.

Johar approached the court seeking legal protection against the unauthorized use of his identity on social media platforms and various websites. His plea raises concerns about the unauthorized sale of merchandise using his name and image, fake profiles, impersonation, domain name misuse, and obscene content. He seeks to prevent these platforms from selling merchandise like mugs and t-shirts bearing his likeness without his consent. Johar's suit claims that various entities are using his name, image, persona, and likeness for monetary gains, which he argues is a violation of his personality rights.

Senior advocate Rajshekhar Rao, representing Johar, asserted that Johar has the right to ensure that no one unauthorizedly uses his persona, face, or voice. He contended that the entities were using innuendos to attack Johar's personality, specifically referencing comments about his orientation. Rao argued that while some ridicule might be tolerated, the current trend has become problematic, especially when it leads to online diatribes and monetization.

The court has asked social media intermediaries like Google, Meta, and X to provide Basic Subscriber Information and IT log details. Summons have also been issued to online platforms like Giphy and Pinterest. The court has directed Redbubble to remove objectionable content. The court chose not to issue summons to certain defendants, clarifying that they were included for compliance purposes and that summons would be considered at the next hearing.

The counsel for Meta Platforms, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, argued that many flagged comments were not defamatory, characterizing them as ordinary discussions, satire, and jokes. They warned that a blanket ban could trigger widespread litigation.

This case follows similar rulings by the Delhi High Court protecting the personality rights of actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan. The court had restrained various entities from misusing their personal attributes, including their names, images, and voices, emphasizing that using technology, including AI, to depict them misleadingly or derogatorily constitutes a violation of privacy and dignity. The court has observed that the unauthorized use of a celebrity's identity can lead to commercial detriment and impact their right to live with dignity.

The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for February 19, 2026.