Rashmika Mandanna’s Viral Deepfake Video Sparks Concern Among Celebrities: A Reflection on Our Digital Future

The recent circulation of an AI-generated deepfake video featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna has sparked outrage among Bollywood celebrities, including Rashmika herself, Amitabh Bachchan, and Mrunal Thakur. The video, which depicts the actress entering an elevator, has been widely condemned as a misuse of technology and an invasion of privacy.

For those unaware, a video has been circulating widely on social media, depicting actress Rashmika Mandanna entering an elevator. The video has amassed millions of views, with over 2.4 million views on social media platform X alone. Upon closer scrutiny, netizens discovered that the video is an AI-generated deepfake and does not feature the real Rashmika Mandanna. The original video was uploaded to Instagram on October 8 and features a woman named Zara Patel.

It is shameful that individuals stoop to such depths, demonstrating a complete lack of conscience. Thank you, @rashmika_mandanna, for raising your voice against this pervasive issue that many of us have observed but chosen to remain silent about. Every day, morphed and edited videos of female actors surface online, zooming in on inappropriate body parts. As a community and a society, where are we headed? We may be actresses in the spotlight, but at the end of the day, we are all human beings. Why aren’t we discussing this? Don’t stay silent; now is not the time.

Naga Chaitanya joined the chorus of voices condemning the deepfake video of Rashmika Mandanna, expressing his dismay at the misuse of technology and calling for stricter measures to protect individuals from such malicious acts.

Joining the chorus of voices condemning the deepfake video of Rashmika Mandanna, singer Chinmayi Sripaada highlighted a similar incident that occurred months ago. A video featuring a popular actress performing to the song “Kaavaalaa” from the movie “Jailer” surfaced online, but it was not actually the actress herself. The video was a deepfake, and there was no confirmation whether the actress had consented to the use of her likeness in the AI-generated rendering.

Check her tweet as under:

Thank you @Chinmayi for creating awareness on this🙏🏼 hoping strict action is taken and regulated guidelines are put into place. https://t.co/zlo8rJyXw8

— Rashmika Mandanna (@iamRashmika) November 6, 2023