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Anupamaa actor Rupali Ganguly moves Bombay High Court over deepfakes, seeks action against misuse of her photos and identity with AI

Rupali Ganguly has sought a court order preventing individuals and organisations from using her name, photographs or likeness without her consent.

Published on: Nov 3, 2026, 17:59:13 IST
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Rupali Ganguly has approached the Bombay High Court over the unauthorised use of her photographs and identity on the internet. The actor, best known for Sarabhai vs Sarabhai and Anupamaa, has raised concerns over her pictures being used for fake endorsements and AI-generated content, including sexually explicit images. Seeking legal protection, she has asked the court to intervene to safeguard her personality rights against such misuse.

Rupali Ganguly's plea to come up for hearing on November 4

Rupali Ganguly has approached the Bombay High Court seeking legal protection against the unauthorised use of her name, photographs and likeness online
Rupali Ganguly has approached the Bombay High Court seeking legal protection against the unauthorised use of her name, photographs and likeness online

As reported by Live Law India, the case has been filed through advocate Sana Raees Khan and will be heard on November 4 by Justice Madhav Jamdar. In her interim plea, Rupali has sought a court order preventing individuals and organisations from using her name, photographs or likeness without her consent.

The plea also raises concerns about the misuse of technology to create fake images and videos. It specifically mentions artificial intelligence, generative AI, machine learning, deepfakes and face-morphing tools, which can be used to make it seem as though a person has endorsed a product or featured in content they have never been associated with.

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Rupali Ganguly during 'Sindoor Khela' ritual on the last day of the Durga Puja festival, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, late Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (PTI Photo)(PTI10_22_2026_000081B)

Online stores and booking platforms under the scanner

In her plea, the actor has pointed out that some online stores are allegedly using her photographs or images that resemble her to promote sarees and other clothing. This, she claims, creates the impression that she is endorsing these products. She has also flagged booking websites that claim to have access to her team and offer to arrange her appearances at private events and brand promotions, despite not having her authorisation.

Sexually explicit deepfakes raise serious concerns

The actor has also raised concerns over fake images allegedly showing her in sexually explicit and compromising situations. According to her plea, AI tools and photo-editing software have been used to create and circulate such content. She has specifically pointed to objectionable posts featuring her pictures on Reddit, as well as AI-generated images found on SeaArt AI. Rupali has argued that the issue goes beyond the unauthorised use of her photographs.

She has said that the circulation of such material infringes on her privacy, dignity and reputation. She has also objected to businesses using her name and image to promote products or services without her permission, pointing out that her identity carries goodwill built over years of work in the entertainment industry.

The actor has urged the Bombay High Court to ask Reddit, Google, MeitY and DoT to take down the objectionable content and remove the links identified in her plea. She has also sought action against websites and applications allegedly using her identity without permission.

About Rupali Ganguly

Rupali Ganguly has been a familiar face on Indian television for over two decades. She first caught viewers' attention as Dr Simran in Sanjivani, followed by her much-loved turn as Monisha Sarabhai in the popular sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. She went on to feature in shows such as Baa Bahoo Aur Baby and Parvarrish – Kuchh Khattee Meethi. She is currently leading the show Anupamaa on Star Plus, which was her comeback on TV in 2020.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Monica Yadav

Monica Yadav is a senior entertainment journalist with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Mumbai, with nearly 11 years of experience covering Bollywood, Hollywood and Asian entertainment, including Korean, Chinese and Thai cinema, television and music. She is among the few Indian journalists in India with a dedicated focus on Korean entertainment, including K-pop and K-dramas, and has interviewed some of the industry's biggest stars while closely tracking the rise of global pop culture. Her reporting has also taken her beyond India, where she has covered travel, culture and entertainment. Alongside her work at Hindustan Times, her bylines have appeared in several international publications. Known for her in-depth interviews, feature stories and engaging storytelling, Monica enjoys exploring the human side of entertainment. From breaking news and long-form features to music coverage, explainers and on-camera conversations with artists, she is passionate about telling stories that connect with audiences across the world.

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