Veteran Indian actor Kamal Haasan has approached the Madras High Court with a lawsuit to safeguard his personality rights and prevent the unauthorised commercial exploitation of his identity. The 71-year-old filed a John Doe suit, a case against unidentified individuals or entities, seeking a legal ban on using his name, image, initials, portraits, titles and other personal attributes without his express consent.
Haasan’s plea highlights that he has been part of the film industry since his childhood and has built his reputation through decades of work. He told the court that his identity and public persona have significant commercial value and should not be misused. The actor cited specific instances where unauthorised merchandise featuring his likeness, name, initials like “K.H.”, the title “Ulaganayagan” and even his photographs were sold without permission by a Chennai-based firm, causing harm to his reputation and rights.
In his lawsuit, Haasan has sought a permanent injunction against the firm and any other unknown parties from using his identity for commercial or personal gain, and has also filed applications for interim injunctions to halt the manufacture, sale, distribution or display of infringing products. He has submitted samples of allegedly violating products as evidence with his legal filings.
The case has been listed for hearing before Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy on 12 January 2026, when both Haasan’s main suit and his plea for interim relief are expected to be considered. In court documents, he contends that advances in digital technology and artificial intelligence could facilitate even more widespread identity misuse if left unchecked, underscoring the need for robust protection of personality rights.
Haasan’s legal action reflects a broader trend among Indian celebrities to assert control over how their likeness and personal attributes are used commercially, amid growing concerns around intellectual property rights in the digital age.
