Bollywood Icon Battles Algorithywood: Singer Sues to Reclaim Iconic Voice

As of November 1st, 2025, legendary Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu finds himself at the center of a groundbreaking legal battle to protect his iconic voice from AI-generated impersonation. For decades, Sanu's unmistakable vocals defined the soundscape of '90s Bollywood, with performers often trying to emulate his signature style. However, the tipping point came last month when AI-generated and morphed content began circulating online, falsely claiming that Sanu had sung for Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Sanu, who had previously been unfazed by imitations, was now facing a brutal online backlash. "He never had a problem with performers trying to sound like him, but the AI-generated content crossed a line," explains his counsel, Sana Raees Khan. The singer, whose famous catchphrase "Meri awaaz hi meri pehchaan hai" (My voice is my identity) now finds himself fighting to assert ownership over the very instrument that made him a household name.

This case highlights the growing challenge of digital voice theft and the urgent need to establish clear legal frameworks to safeguard the artistic identities of performers. As the lines between human and artificial vocals continue to blur, Sanu's fight to reclaim his voice serves as a cautionary tale and a rallying cry for the creative community to protect their most valuable assets.