City Civil Court, Hyderabad Grants Ad-Interim Injunction Protecting Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Personality Rights
The Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad, has granted an ad-interim injunction in favour of Megastar Konidela Chiranjeevi, renowned actor and philanthropist, through an order dated 26th September 2025 in I.A. No. 6275 of 2025 in O.S. No. 441 of 2025.
This injunction restrains multiple named parties and, in general, any person or entity from infringing upon Chiranjeevi’s personality and publicity rights — including the unauthorised commercial use of his name, image, likeness, voice, and other identifiable attributes.
With a distinguished career spanning over four decades, and as a recipient of India’s highest civilian honours — the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan — Chiranjeevi approached the Court seeking protection against unpermitted exploitation of his identity on merchandise, online platforms, and via artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
The Court, acknowledging Chiranjeevi as one of Indian cinema’s most iconic figures, noted that his reputation and public esteem had been harmed by the unauthorised creation and distribution of content such as images, memes, videos, and merchandise bearing his likeness. The order further observed that such digital and AI-driven misuse could cause severe and irreparable harm to both his personal reputation and economic interests.
Under this order, Defendants No.1 to 33 and Defendant No.36 (John Doe) have been immediately restrained from directly or indirectly using Chiranjeevi’s name, stage titles (“MEGA STAR,” “CHIRU,” “ANNAYYA”), image, voice, or any element of his persona for commercial or personal gain, across all media and platforms. The Court has also directed urgent notifications to all respondents, with the next hearing scheduled for 27th October 2025.
The Court’s directive serves as a clear warning: any violation or defamation, or unauthorised use of Chiranjeevi’s identity, will attract strict civil and criminal consequences. Media houses, digital content creators, and other entities are explicitly cautioned that using, distorting, or misrepresenting Chiranjeevi’s personality for TRP gains, publicity, or commercial benefit without explicit written consent will result in robust legal action to protect his rights and reputation.
On 11th October 2025, Chiranjeevi personally met Mr. C.V. Anand Sajjanar, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, and handed over a copy of the Court Order. During their meeting, Chiranjeevi sought the Commissioner’s expert opinion on initiating criminal proceedings in such matters. Both discussed the urgent need for stronger and more deterrent penal provisions to combat unauthorised exploitation of personality rights and protect individual privacy.
Commissioner Sajjanar commended Chiranjeevi’s initiative, stating that such legal measures reinforce the significance of personality and publicity rights in the Indian entertainment industry, ensuring respect for every individual’s reputation and intellectual property.
Chiranjeevi expressed his deep gratitude to Advocate Sri S. Nagesh Reddy and his legal team for their dedicated efforts, meticulous preparation, and professional excellence, which played a key role in securing this landmark legal protection for personality and publicity rights.
Read Also: The Raja Saab Trailer Review: Rebel Star Prabhas Promises a Festive Blockbuster