Alia Bhatt falls prey to disturbing deepfake after Katrina, Kajol, others

The Indian film fraternity is grappling with the dark side of AI

The dark side of artificial intelligence (AI) has reared its head in India and Bollywood celebrities are increasingly falling victim to the insidious realm of deepfake videos and manipulated images. The latest celebrity to join the unfortunate ranks is Bollywood sensation Alia Bhatt. This disturbing trend has raised serious concerns about the privacy and security of public figures, as fans and industry insiders alike grapple with the implications of these digital deceptions.

Alia Bhatt

The deepfake phenomenon recently targeted Alia Bhatt in a distressing video that circulated widely on the internet. In this manipulated clip, a girl resembling the B-Town star is seen making obscene gestures to the camera while clad in a blue floral co-ord set.

Katrina Kaif

Alia’s fake video comes hot on the heels of a digitally altered image of Katrina Kaif from her upcoming film Tiger 3, where the original image showed her engaged in a scene with a stuntwoman clad in a towel. The edited version, however, depicted Katrina wearing a low-cut white top and matching bottom instead of the towel, highlighting the malicious potential of deepfake technology.

Rashmika Mandanna

Pan-India star Rashmika Mandanna found herself at the centre of a deepfake storm when a video surfaced online featuring her face morphed into a random scenario. Instagram users played a role in spreading this manipulated video, underscoring the rapid dissemination capabilities of such content in the digital age.

Kajol

The deepfake menace extended its reach to Bollywood veteran Kajol, as a video emerged with her face superimposed on a woman changing clothes on camera. However, it was later revealed that the video was originally of an English social media influencer participating in a 'Get Ready With Me' (GRWM) trend on TikTok. The incident emphasizes the potential for misinformation and the need for careful verification in the age of deepfakes.

Sara Tendulkar

Cricketing world connections Sara Tendulkar and Shubman Gill were not spared from the clutches of deepfake technology. A few months ago, Sara posted a picture with her brother Arjun Tendulkar on Instagram on his birthday. A deepfake tech expert replaced Arjun's face with her rumoured boyfriend Shubman Gill's face and the picture went viral within hours.

The rise of deepfake technology poses a serious threat to the privacy, reputation, and mental well-being of celebrities. The incidents involving Alia, Rashmika, Kajol, Sara, and Shubman underscore the urgent need for increased awareness, stringent regulations, and advanced technological solutions to combat digital deception.

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