Long before entering films, Janhvi Kapoor had an upsetting experience that stayed with her for years. She recently revealed that at just 15, while still in school, she came across a morphed image of herself online.
Talking about the incident, Janhvi said that she isn’t sure if it would be called a deepfake today, but it was something similar. The moment happened during an IT class in school, where some boys would browse such websites for fun. That’s when she saw her own picture there. She described it as a very strange and uncomfortable experience, especially at the young age of 15.
At that time, she tried to make sense of it by telling herself that this was just part of being online. She believed it was something people had to deal with in the digital world. According to her, social media often lacks basic morality and she accepted it as a harsh reality back then.
But things haven’t really improved. Janhvi shared that even today, her AI-generated images continue to circulate online. These images often show her in outfits or situations she has never actually been part of. She clearly said that she is not at peace with it.
What makes it more concerning is that some of these images are shared by verified or official-looking pages, which makes them seem real. This can create confusion and affect how people perceive her. She also explained how this impacts her work. If she tells a director that she isn’t comfortable wearing something, such fake images can create doubt. Even if no one says anything directly, it can still put pressure on her and influence decisions.
Despite feeling strongly about the issue, Janhvi admitted that she doesn’t always feel comfortable speaking out. She said there’s a common attitude that people in her position should tolerate such things because they already have a lot in life. This makes her feel like her concerns may not be taken seriously.
However, she pointed out that many women in the film industry have started raising voices against deepfakes. Her experience shows how this issue goes beyond just one person and reflects a larger problem growing in the digital space today.
