YouTube has removed hundreds of AI-generated Bollywood videos that had collectively attracted more than 16 million views, following a Reuters report that identified them as similar to content at the center of a high-profile legal challenge brought by Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The couple filed lawsuits in New Delhi to protect their intellectual property rights and to block the creation of manipulated AI videos that depict them in ways they consider misleading and harmful. Their legal action also questions YouTube’s policies on AI training data and content moderation, raising wider concerns about how platforms manage synthetic media.
Last month, a New Delhi judge ordered the removal of several YouTube links flagged in the couple’s lawsuits, but Reuters found that hundreds of other similar videos were still available online. Many of these featured manipulated depictions of Bollywood celebrities, including simulations of kissing scenes or AI lookalikes in romantic encounters. Among the most prominent cases was a channel called “AI Bollywood Ishq,” which published 259 videos, some sexually explicit, portraying actors in fabricated scenarios. That channel, which had amassed 16.5 million views, has now been removed. Attempts to access its page on Friday showed the message: “This page isn’t available,” with all videos inaccessible.
In response to Reuters, YouTube confirmed the channel’s disappearance but clarified that it had been deleted by its creator. The platform reiterated that it prohibits harmful misinformation and removes content that has been technically manipulated in ways that could mislead viewers. YouTube did not elaborate further on the account in question but said its policies cover doctored content and manipulated videos. Reuters noted that messages sent to the email address linked with @AIbollywoodishq bounced back, and the owner had not previously responded to inquiries.
India remains YouTube’s largest global market with around 600 million users, where Bollywood content drives significant engagement. The now-deleted channel’s most popular video, viewed more than 4.1 million times, portrayed an AI animation of Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in a swimming pool. Khan had previously been in a relationship with Aishwarya before her marriage, making the AI-generated portrayal particularly sensitive. Representatives for both Khan and the Bachchans did not immediately comment on the issue when approached by Reuters.
Despite the takedowns, some similar videos remain available on YouTube, including AI depictions cited in the Bachchans’ legal filings. These include fabricated clips showing Abhishek Bachchan kissing a film actress and manipulated animations of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan with Salman Khan in staged scenarios, sometimes showing Abhishek fuming in the background. The couple has also filed a claim for $450,000 in damages against Google and several lesser-known websites accused of selling unauthorized merchandise featuring their images.
The lawsuits underline growing tension between creators, platforms, and celebrities over AI-generated content and digital rights. For YouTube, the controversy adds pressure to more closely monitor manipulated material, particularly in markets like India where its platform is used by hundreds of millions daily. As AI-driven video creation tools proliferate, questions over moderation, consent, and liability are set to intensify.
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