Janhvi Kapoor reacts to AI-morphed video: 'Her no must be respected'

MUMBAI: Actress Janhvi Kapoor has strongly criticised the use of artificial intelligence to morph and circulate her images. She spoke out after visuals of her and Jr NTR from the hit song Chuttamalle in the film Devara were digitally altered using AI to create obscene content. The morphed visuals were widely circulated on social media before Janhvi publicly reacted to the incident.

Janhvi said the incident was an attack on a person's dignity and amounted to sexual assault. In a detailed note shared on her Instagram page, the actress said the criminal misuse of technology to objectify women and circulate fake visuals was an invasion of personal freedom. She also thanked her co-star Jr NTR for publicly speaking out against the incident and standing by her.

The video, which was widely circulated on social media, was later removed. The video had been digitally altered to portray Janhvi in a defamatory manner. She said no one has the right to sexualise or circulate a woman's body or identity without her consent. She also said such content cannot be dismissed simply because it is circulated online. Janhvi pointed out that most women in the film industry face some form of such digital abuse.

Consent, choice and respect for a woman's body should be among the most basic notions of humanity, the actress said. Yet, she questioned why these are still often ignored.

'It is surprising that it still seems too nuanced for some people to understand that even if a woman says yes five days in a row and no on the sixth, that no must be respected. If she happens to wear a miniskirt, it does not give anyone permission to put a camera up her skirt, capture violating angles or visually exploit her body. What a woman is comfortable with, where she draws the line and what she chooses to do with her body are decisions that belong exclusively to her. This is basic,' Janhvi wrote.

She added that the incident was not just about one video but a real reflection of the safety threats women face in society. She said the mindset that one has the right to invade another person's privacy must change.