The Delhi High Court has directed Google to respond to a plea filed by Aaradhya Bachchan, seeking a resolution regarding misleading content about her health. The minor, represented by her father, Abhishek Bachchan, has requested the court to decide the case without hearing from certain YouTube channels that have failed to appear in the matter.
Justice Mini Pushkarna issued a notice on Aaradhya’s application, which seeks to proceed with a summary judgment, as the defendants, including several YouTube channels, have not responded. The case, which is part of an ongoing lawsuit, is set for hearing on March 17.
The application is related to a pending lawsuit filed in response to videos circulating on YouTube containing false and harmful content about Aaradhya’s health. On April 20, 2023, the Delhi High Court issued an interim order restraining several YouTube channels from publishing misleading content about the child, including false claims that she was “critically ill” or “no more.” The court described such disinformation as a form of “morbid perversity” and instructed Google to remove the videos.
The court had summoned YouTube channels such as Bollywood Time, Bolly Pakora, Bolly Samosa, and Bollywood Shine, as it found a prima facie case for granting interim relief to prevent further damage to the Bachchan family’s reputation. The lawsuit, which was filed by Aaradhya and her father, alleges that these YouTube channels spread “absolutely false” information about her health, which not only violated her privacy but also aimed to generate profit and notoriety at the expense of the Bachchan family’s reputation.
The Bachchan family has maintained that their name is a symbol of the “highest virtues” and is “protectable as a trademark.” The lawsuit argues that the misleading content about Aaradhya’s health was created purely for “shock value, overnight popularity,” and monetary gain.
Aaradhya Bachchan, born on November 16, 2011, is the daughter of Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. As a member of one of India’s most famous film families, she has been in the public eye since birth. Despite her young age, Aaradhya is often in the media spotlight, whether for her appearances at prestigious events like the Cannes Film Festival or for taking legal action to protect her privacy, as seen in her current case against defamatory content.