Alia Bhatt To Ranveer Singh, Actors Who Were Targeted By Deepfakes

Alia Bhatt's fans have raised concerns after a new deepfake video of her went viral. The video features a person, with Bhatt's facial features, donning a black chikankari kurta and getting ready for an event. The video was shared on Instagram by the user “Sameeksha Avtr” and has over 17 million views. The profile has several deepfake videos of Alia Bhatt and some other popular personalities. 

The maker clarifies that their content is solely for entertainment purposes, however, netizens expressed concern over the ethics of such technology. This is not the first time that Alia Bhatt has been targeted by deepfake technology. In November 2023, the first deepfake video of the actress came to light, featuring her face in an 'explicit' video.

Actors Who Were Targets Of Deepfake

Recently, Ranveer Singh was also targeted by deepfakes. During their visit to Varanasi for a fashion event, Ranveer's genuine video discussing his trip was manipulated to show him endorsing a political party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Taking to X, Ranveer cautioned his followers, writing, "Beware of deepfakes, friends."

Deepfake se bacho dostonnnn 💀

— Ranveer Singh (@RanveerOfficial) April 19, 2024

Earlier, Nora Fatehi also unveiled a staged video on her Instagram story, catching fans off guard and triggering extensive discussions across social media platforms. The video, cleverly designed as an advertisement for an end-of-season sale by a retail clothing company, initially appeared authentic on the company's social media. However, a closer look at the retailer's website contradicted the legitimacy of the ad. This peculiar initiative is part of a strategic awareness campaign launched by the company to address rising concerns about online financial fraud.

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A post shared by Sameeksha Avtr (@unfixface)

Nora Fatehi's 'Deepfake' Video Controversy

The video kicks off with Nora Fatehi introducing an ongoing sale and urging viewers to take advantage of the offers. As the narrative unfolds, a surprising twist occurs, with the actor transforming into the character of Vigil Aunty, portrayed by actor and theatre artist Anuradha Menon.

Notably resembling Lola Kutty, a persona from the [V] channel played by Anuradha, this creative campaign aims to shed light on deceptive practices in advertisements and the potential disparities between their presentation and the reality on the associated websites. It underscores the necessity for caution during online transactions.

Vigil Aunty, in the video, underscores the significance of viewers protecting themselves from financial fraud by remaining vigilant for early warning signs. The primary focus lies on safeguarding one's hard-earned money, specifically by identifying fraudulent shopping websites. The company's meticulous execution of this campaign demonstrates a commitment to addressing and educating the public about the prevalence of online financial scams.

Deconstructing Katrina Kaif's Deepfake Video

Another video featuring Katrina Kaif conversing fluently in Turkish has garnered significant attention on social media. However, when you look closer, it reveals that the linguistic prowess displayed is not a result of Kaif's language proficiency but rather a sophisticated manipulation utilising artificial intelligence.

This video, which has circulated widely on social media, reveals a deepfake—a technology that employs AI algorithms to alter or fabricate content convincingly. In this instance, fans adeptly harnessed deepfake technology to seamlessly integrate a Turkish conversation into an old interview featuring Katrina Kaif and Hrithik Roshan during the promotional phase of the 2014 film Bang Bang.

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A post shared by Katrina Kaif Türkiye (@katrinakaifturkey)

While the technological feat is undoubtedly impressive, it raises concerns about the potential misuse of deepfake technology. The video, albeit created in good humour by fans, blurs the lines between reality and manipulation. By impersonating Katrina Kaif speaking Turkish, the deepfake inadvertently creates a false narrative, portraying the actress in a light that diverges from her true persona. In this case, Katrina Kaif's fans, motivated by admiration, utilized AI to present her as multilingual, potentially misleading a broad audience.

The danger lies in the unintentional misrepresentation of celebrities, a consequence inherent in the growing prevalence of deepfake content. Such instances highlight the need for vigilance in consuming digital content, as the line between authentic and manipulated becomes increasingly thin.