Kamal Haasan moves Madras High Court to safeguard personality rights against unauthorized use of ‘Ulaganayagan’ – Report | – The Times of India

Kamal Haasan, the legendary Indian actor who is currently making waves not due to a film, but due to his radical approach towards claiming his rights. The veteran star who has been famous for looming on-screen presence, as well as affable off-screen charm, recently complained about his so-called image being falsely used in a profit-minting way. With the images of public figures circulating widely, without their consent, Kamal Haasan’s legal step closely follows along the lines of other industry personalities like Aishwarya Rai, Karan Johar, Nagarjuna Akkineni among others.

Kamal Haasan moves Madras High Court to protect personality rights

According to The Hindu, Kamal Haasan has approached the Madras High Court with a John Doe lawsuit to protect the rights to his personality from being commercially exploited without authorization. The suit is to prevent the unlawful use of the actor’s name, initials, portrait, images, titles, or any other characteristics associated with him without seeking his prior permission. The case, where there are also interim injunction applications, has been placed before Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy for hearing on 12 January 2026. With this suit, the actor is trying to protect his years of hard work and the persona that he has created over the years from being exploited commercially without his permission.

Alleged misuse and grounds for legal action

In his plea, the 71-year-old actor highlighted his long-standing journey in cinema, beginning from childhood, and stressed that his public image is the result of years of artistic dedication across multiple disciplines. He cited an instance involving a Chennai-based firm that allegedly sold clothing featuring his portraits, name, initials, the title “Ulaganayagan,” and famous film dialogues without permission. Kamal Haasan opined that such a step is a direct infringement of personality rights and no one including an individual and an institution should be permitted to exploit his identity for financial or personal advantage.

Interim relief sought amid growing digital risks

Other than the main application, the actor is reported to have filed certain interim injunction applications seeking immediate ban on the manufacture, sale, and distribution of products or materials that are under dispute. The actor is believed to have submitted to the court a sample of the controversial product in support of the application. More importantly, the actor has expressed concerns on the indiscriminate use of contemporary technologies such as AI that he anticipates might lead to the proliferation of identity theft if allowed to run its course. As the saga unfolds, it appears to be a defining moment for celebrity rights in the country.On the work front, Kamal Haasan will soon begin filming his next venture ‘KH 237’, which has been officially confirmed to be directed by the Stunt brothers Anbarivu.Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice regarding personality rights or ongoing judicial proceedings.