The Delhi High Court has issued an interim order blocking actor Deepika Padukone’s self-care company from using the trademark “Lotus Splash” for its face cleanser, in a high-profile legal dispute with Lotus Herbals Private Limited. The court’s direction comes as part of an ongoing trademark infringement lawsuit, underscoring the importance of protecting established brand identities in India’s competitive beauty market.
The division bench of Justices V. Kameswar Rao and Vinod Kumar granted the interim injunction on Monday, reversing an earlier single judge’s decision from January 2024 that had refused relief. The bench held that 82°E’s use of “Lotus Splash” the name of the face cleanser marketed under DPKA Universal Consumer Ventures, the parent company of Padukone’s brand prima facie infringed the registered “Lotus” mark owned by Lotus Herbals.
In its ruling, the court said Lotus Herbals’ mark is entitled to protection under intellectual property law, observing that the similarity between the two marks could mislead consumers into thinking there is an association between the products. As a result, the court restrained DPKA and its affiliates from manufacturing, selling, advertising or importing any cosmetics or beauty products under the “Lotus Splash” mark or any closely related variation until the suit is finally decided.
Lotus Herbals, a veteran player in the Indian beauty and personal care space, has been using the “Lotus” trademark since the 1990s and has built extensive goodwill and brand recognition over decades. The company argued in its suit that 82°E’s branding could dilute its mark and harm consumer clarity in the cosmetics market, where both brands operate.
DPKA had contested the action by asserting that the term “Lotus Splash” was descriptive of a key ingredient lotus extract in its face cleanser, and therefore should be protected under the descriptive use provisions of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The brand also highlighted differences in packaging, pricing and retail channels to argue that consumers would not be confused. However, the division bench was not convinced by this defence at the interim relief stage.
The product at the centre of the dispute is part of 82°E’s premium skincare offerings. 82°E, launched by Padukone in 2022, positions itself in the science-led self-care segment with a curated range of clinical skincare products. Despite its celebrity backing and aspirational positioning, the brand’s legal challenge reflects the complexities that celebrity-led ventures can face when naming products in crowded trademark spaces.
The interim order hough not a final adjudication on the merits requires 82°E to cease using the contested mark while the full lawsuit proceeds through court. The ruling highlights how India’s judiciary continues to balance trademark rights with business interests in an increasingly dynamic consumer landscape.
