Amid a growing number of celebrities moving court to safeguard their personality rights, Sunil Grover has shared his take on the issue — especially as his mimicry of Salman Khan and Aamir Khan continues to grab attention.Asked whether impersonation has become challenging in the current climate, Sunil told Hindustan Times, “Jab tak mere pe case nahi aata, tab tak to main nahi soch raha.”On a more serious note, he added, “For me, it’s a tribute.”He elaborated that while misuse of a celebrity’s image for endorsements or propaganda can be problematic, mimicry rooted in admiration is a form of celebration. “These personalities have become so big ke ab wo public ke bhi ho gaye hain and we, as people, celebrate them,” he said.
When mimicry blurred into real life
Sunil’s impersonation of Aamir on The Great Indian Kapil Show became so popular that it spilled over into reality. At the premiere of Happy Patel Ek Khatarnaak Jaasoos last month, paparazzi mistakenly addressed the real Aamir as “Sunil Grover.”Recalling the moment, Sunil said, “Kaafi din tak chalta raha ye, and it felt good. People even referred to me as ‘Aamir sir’. I am a big fan of Aamir Khan and his work, and it’s his greatness that he also took it all in zest.”
“No below-the-belt jokes”: Drawing boundaries
While advocating for creative freedom, Sunil emphasised the need for dignity. “The celebration should continue but yes, below the belt and offensive jokes, I don’t support them. I don’t like to talk about their personal lives too. Jo garima mein hai wo theek hai… uske paar jo jaye, hum koshish karte hain ki waisa na ho,” he said.“Personally, when I impersonate people, I celebrate them and it’s my tribute to them, not to make fun of them in any way. So, I think they should give away celebration rights,” he added.
Celebrities approach courts for protection
Recently, Shatrughan Sinha joined a growing list of public figures seeking legal protection for their personality rights. The list includes Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Jackie Shroff, Karan Johar, Suniel Shetty, Vivek Oberoi, Kumar Sanu, Daler Mehndi, Nagarjuna and Asha Bhosle, among others.
