Celebrities Rally in Support of Rashmika Amidst Deepfake Video Controversy

Rashmika Mandanna, the popular South Indian actress, found herself at the center of a disturbing incident when a manipulated video, created through artificial intelligence (AI), went viral on social media. The video depicted her in a private moment, leaving her understandably distressed. This incident prompted a strong response from various public figures and celebrities who expressed their support for Rashmika.

Amitabh Bachchan, the legendary Bollywood actor, was among the first to demand stringent action against those responsible. Kavitha, the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister KCR, also joined the chorus, calling for strong measures against the wrongdoers. Union IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar vowed to take tough action against those involved. Tollywood celebrities like Sai Dharam Tej, Naga Chaitanya, Mrunal Thakur, and Chinmayi Sripada have also extended their support to Rashmika and spoken out against the disturbing use of deepfake technology.

I feel really hurt to share this and have to talk about the deepfake video of me being spread online.

Something like this is honestly, extremely scary not only for me, but also for each one of us who today is vulnerable to so much harm because of how technology is being misused.…

— Rashmika Mandanna (@iamRashmika) November 6, 2023

Sai Dharam Tej expressed his deep dismay at the situation, emphasizing the need for awareness and stricter laws to address such heinous acts. Naga Chaitanya conveyed his distress at the misuse of technology, stressing the urgency of taking action and enforcing laws to protect potential victims. Mrunal Thakur called out the individuals responsible for such reprehensible actions and encouraged Rashmika for bravely addressing the issue. She highlighted the prevalence of morphed and edited videos circulating on the internet, violating the privacy and dignity of female actors. Chinmayi Sripada brought attention to the threat of deepfake technology, emphasizing the potential for exploitation, harassment, and extortion. She called for a nationwide awareness campaign to educate the public about the dangers of deepfakes and encourage reporting of such incidents to the authorities. The support from these prominent figures underlines the importance of addressing the misuse of technology and the need to protect individuals from such invasive violations.