JAIPUR: Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone have been booked in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, for allegedly endorsing a car model plagued with technical defects.
According to Indian media reports, six senior officials of Hyundai Motor India have also been named in the case.
The FIR stems from a complaint filed by local lawyer Kirti Singh, who said he purchased a Hyundai Alcazar SUV in 2022 for INR 2.39 million after being influenced by advertisements featuring the two actors.
Singh alleged that despite being marketed as “trouble-free” and reliable, the vehicle developed persistent faults, including failure to accelerate properly on highways and repeated odometer warnings. He claimed these issues made the car unsafe to drive.
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The complainant further said that after multiple visits to the dealership, company representatives informed him that the problem was due to a “manufacturing defect” which could not be rectified.
Following court directions, Bharatpur police registered a case under sections related to cheating and misleading consumers. Assistant Sub-Inspector Radha Kishan of Mathura Gate Police Station confirmed the FIR, which names Hyundai officials along with Khan and Padukone in their capacity as brand ambassadors.
Celebrities in legal spotlight
Indian film stars have faced legal trouble before over endorsement deals deemed misleading. This is the second case against Shah Rukh Khan in less than a year. In March, he was booked in Raipur on similar charges of “cheating and misleading” through advertisements.
That case later took a dramatic turn when the complainant lawyer was himself arrested for allegedly threatening Khan after issuing multiple legal notices.
