Renowned actor Rashmika Mandanna has expressed her firm reaction to a deepfake video that recently circulated widely on social media platforms. In an Instagram Story shared on Monday, the star of ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ posted a heartfelt message addressing the distressing situation.
She conveyed, “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, both as a woman and an actor, expressed her gratitude towards her family, friends, and well-wishers who provide her with a protective and supportive network. She also reflected on the potential consequences if such an incident had occurred during her school or college years, emphasizing the need for urgent community action against this form of identity theft.
“We need to address this as a community and with urgency before more of us are affected by such identity theft,” she concluded.
The unconfirmed video in question featured an individual bearing Rashmika’s likeness entering an elevator while wearing a black swimsuit. It rapidly gained notoriety, with several social media users confirming it to be a deepfake.
In response to the viral video, Rashmika’s ‘Goodbye’ co-star, Amitabh Bachchan, called for legal action. Taking to Twitter, he asserted, “Yes, this is a strong case for legal action.”
As for Rashmika Mandanna’s upcoming projects, she is set to appear in ‘Animal’ alongside Ranbir Kapoor and in the highly anticipated Pan-India film ‘Pushpa 2.’ Additionally, she has ‘Chaava’ on her slate, with the film scheduled for a theatrical release on December 6, 2024.
