Makers unveil character posters of Pataakha

Highlights

• Alia Bhatt’s morphed images used by a Pakistani brand without clear endorsement
• Incident raises concerns around consent, digital manipulation and misleading advertising
• Growing focus on personality rights as misuse of celebrity likeness increases online

When endorsement is assumed, not agreed

The unauthorised use of Alia Bhatt’s altered images by a Pakistani brand has reignited a familiar concern in digital advertising. Campaigns that visually mimic endorsements can easily blur the line between association and approval.

For audiences, such edits can appear credible at first glance. When a well-known face is integrated into promotional material, the assumption of endorsement often follows. Without clear consent, that assumption risks misleading consumers while benefiting from the celebrity’s influence.