New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- A growing number of Indian celebrities are petitioning courts to safeguard everything from their names and catchphrases to their images and signature traits from unauthorized use and commercial exploitation.

In the first two weeks of September alone, actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, and filmmaker Karan Johar have approached the Delhi High Court, seeking to protect their 'personality rights'. In doing so they hope to join Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff, who have already secured such legal safeguards.

Mint takes a closer look at this growing legal trend, the specific cases, and what's driving this surge in personality-rights litigation.

The latest wave of litigation began on 9 ...