Katrina Kaif’s Deepfake Photo Goes Viral Amidst Calls for Regulation After Rashmika Mandanna Controversy

Popular Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif fell victim to a deepfake AI incident when morphed images of her surfaced online, garnering significant attention. This occurrence coincided with the ongoing demand from both netizens and the Bollywood industry for stringent regulations against deepfake AI. Notably, the recent circulation of a deepfake video purportedly featuring actress Rashmika Mandanna highlighted the pressing need for regulatory measures against such manipulative technology.

In the case of Katrina Kaif, manipulated photos depicted her in a towel, an image originally shared by the actress herself from the sets of her upcoming movie, “Tiger 3,” alongside Salman Khan. The altered images removed the towel, presenting Katrina Kaif in a digitally manipulated scenario wearing a white bikini.

Deepfakes, a form of synthetic media, intricately modify digital content to convincingly replace one person’s likeness with another, leading to often undetectable alterations.

The Rashmika Mandanna deepfake controversy drew attention when a journalist highlighted the urgent necessity for a legal framework to address such occurrences in India. The journalist flagged a video allegedly featuring Rashmika Mandanna, clarifying that it was, in fact, a deepfake portrayal of another individual, Zara Patel, a British-Indian with a significant following on Instagram. The original video, posted by Zara Patel on October 9, was manipulated to convincingly portray Rashmika Mandanna, with subtle discrepancies observable in the video.

Responding to the distressing situation, Rashmika Mandanna expressed her dismay on her Instagram story, acknowledging the deepfake video circulating online. She expressed concern over the misuse of technology and its potential harm, emphasizing the vulnerability of individuals in the face of such manipulative tactics.

The incidents involving both Katrina Kaif and Rashmika Mandanna underscore the growing threat posed by deepfake technology and the imperative need for robust regulations to safeguard individuals against its detrimental effects.