Mumbai: Actor Janhvi Kapoor has shared a deeply unsettling experience from her school days, recalling her first encounter with manipulated imagery resembling deepfakes. Speaking on the Raj Shamani Podcast, Kapoor revealed how the incident left a lasting impression and shaped her perspective on digital ethics and consent.
Kapoor recounted that during her school years, she discovered pictures of herself on a pornographic website. “I don’t know if it was technically a deepfake, but it was something like that. We had IT class in school, and the boys used to go on those sites for fun—and my pictures were there. This was while I was still in school. That was a weird experience,” she said.
The incident forced her to confront the darker realities of being in the public eye at a young age. “At some point, I thought, ‘Why? Is this just the price you have to pay?’ Like there’s no morality in these things. With social media, everyone is just putting things out there,” Kapoor added. She noted that while some recent awareness has improved behaviour online, the circulation of such content remains a persistent issue.
The actress also addressed the growing problem of AI-generated content misrepresenting her. “I’m not at peace with it. There are visuals of me out there—circulated even by official news pages—that are completely AI-generated. I’ve never worn those things, I’ve never been photographed like that. But it’s circulated as if it’s real, creating a certain impression,” Kapoor revealed.
She emphasised the professional implications of such content, noting that it could affect her future projects. “Tomorrow, if I’m doing a film and I tell a director I’m not comfortable wearing something, they could say, ‘But you’ve already done this—people have seen it.’”
Kapoor candidly shared her frustration at feeling limited in addressing the misuse of her images. “It makes you question what the moral guidelines even are. It upsets me, of course. But I feel like I don’t have enough voice or credibility to complain about it. People might say, ‘You’ve got so much in life, just tolerate this. Don’t complain,’” she said. She noted that other public figures have faced similar challenges, highlighting a wider issue of AI misuse and digital consent.
Janhvi Kapoor’s remarks contribute to the ongoing discussion around the ethical boundaries of AI-generated content, the responsibilities of social media platforms, and the urgent need to protect individuals—especially minors—from digitally manipulated imagery. Her experience underscores the emotional and professional consequences of such content, emphasizing that consent and ethical usage remain critical concerns in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
By speaking openly about her experience, Kapoor is raising awareness of the complex challenges posed by deepfake technology and AI-generated imagery. Her reflections highlight the importance of ethical frameworks and greater accountability to ensure that individuals’ rights and reputations are respected in the digital era.
