The controversy surrounding an AI-generated deepfake video involving Janhvi Kapoor and Jr NTR has taken another turn, with filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma questioning whether celebrity reactions have inadvertently amplified the offensive content.
Janhvi Kapoor, who was targeted by the morphed video based on Devara: Part 1’s popular song Chuttamalle, warned against circulating such material. In a post on X, she wrote,
“It’s disturbing to see AI-generated fake videos being circulated. Please don’t create, share or promote such content. This is a clear misuse of AI.” She also stated that legal action would be taken against those responsible.
Jr NTR, meanwhile, strongly condemned the deepfake, calling it “Disgusting, Sick and Shameless” and vowing, “I will take every possible legal action against those who created it and those who are spreading it.”
He also urged people not to watch, share or engage with the content and called for stricter regulation of AI misuse.
However, RGV took a different view. Reacting on October 4, he argued that celebrities had actually drawn more attention to the material.
“The only thing all the celebrities succeeded in, is to publicise and thereby make crores and crores of people see the objectionable link,” he posted.
He said the focus should instead have been on catching the perpetrator, adding that publicising the victim’s identity and offensive content could itself compound the problem.
