Janhvi Kapoor's Harrowing Encounter with Deepfakes as a Teenager
In a candid and revealing interview, Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor has opened up about her first traumatic experience with deepfake technology, which occurred during her school days. The actor disclosed that she discovered morphed images of herself circulating on inappropriate websites, an incident that continues to haunt her to this day.
Early Exposure to Non-Consensual Image Manipulation
Speaking with Raj Shamani, Janhvi recounted the unsettling moment when she stumbled upon her own pictures on a pornographic site. "I don't know if it was a deepfake, but it was something like that. I saw a picture of me on a porn site," she revealed. This discovery happened during an IT class in school, where boys would visit such sites for amusement. "My pictures were on there. And this was in school. So that was a weird experience," she added, highlighting the early age at which she faced this violation.
Initially, Janhvi attempted to rationalize the situation, telling herself that such incidents were an unavoidable cost of being in the public eye. "At some point, I was like — this is the cost you have to pay. There is no morality in a lot of these things with social media," she explained. However, her perspective has significantly evolved since then, as she now recognizes the profound impact of these actions.
Ongoing Struggles with AI-Generated Content
Despite her efforts to normalize the experience, Janhvi admitted that she remains deeply troubled by the prevalence of AI-generated visuals featuring her likeness. "I am not at peace with it. There are visuals of me out there, even shared by official news pages, which are completely AI. I have never worn those clothes or been photographed like that," she expressed. These fabricated images are often circulated as if they are genuine, creating misleading impressions about her personal and professional life.
The actor emphasized how this misinformation can directly affect her career opportunities. "If tomorrow I tell a director I'm not comfortable wearing something, someone can pull up those pictures and say, 'But you've done this before.' Even if they don't say it, it makes you think," she noted, illustrating the real-world consequences of deepfake proliferation.
Hesitance to Speak Out Amid Privilege Perceptions
Janhvi also shared her internal conflict about voicing her concerns publicly. "It upsets me, of course. But I feel like I don't have that much of a voice to complain," she confessed. She pointed out that perceptions of privilege often undermine her credibility, with people suggesting she should endure such issues silently because of her successful career. "There's this attitude — you've got so much in life, thoda seh lo, don't complain. So I don't think my voice has that credibility yet. There will be backlash, and it might take away from the cause," she elaborated.
Nevertheless, Janhvi stressed that this is not an isolated problem. "It's not just me. I think a lot of others have spoken about it as well," she remarked, acknowledging the widespread nature of deepfake abuse targeting women in the public eye.
Addressing Non-Consensual Sexualization in Media
The actor further critiqued the invasive practices of paparazzi and media outlets that commodify women's bodies without consent. Recalling a recent interaction, she said, "I told them — it's invasive, it's not consensual. Even if we step out dressed a certain way, we're not expecting someone to zoom into a body part." She condemned the motivation behind such actions, stating, "For money and views, you're commodifying a woman's body against her will. How do you respect yourself doing that?"
Janhvi also highlighted a broader societal trend, noting that sexualized content remains the most consumed globally, which perpetuates its production and distribution.
The Impact on Career and Personal Well-being
Reflecting on the long-term effects, Janhvi described how these fabricated narratives shape public perception and influence her professional trajectory. "The perception created affects audiences, filmmakers and the kind of opportunities I get," she explained. She termed this phenomenon "the tragedy of the human mind," acknowledging its wrongfulness while recognizing its persistent reality.
Despite wishing she could disregard the issue, Janhvi admitted that it holds significant weight in her life. "I wish I could say I don't care, but it does matter. I'm not in a position of power where I can say that and still get work," she shared. For now, she plans to navigate her career cautiously, building credibility until she can assert more control. "For now, I'll play it safe, do what I have to, till I build that credibility. Then maybe I can do things my way," she concluded.
