Janhvi Kapoor On Deepfake Abuse: Bordering On Sexual Assault

MUMBAI-Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor has strongly condemned a sexually explicit deepfake video featuring her, saying the circulation of fictionalized content without consent is “deeply violating” and “bordering on sexual assault”.

The actress on October 4 spke out against the doctored video and the misuse of technology to objectify women. She criticized what she described as a failure to understand consent and respect for a woman’s boundaries.

She posted, “The criminal misuse of technology to objectify women and circulate fictionalized content without consent is deeply violating, bordering on sexual assault. Almost every woman in my industry has faced some version of this, and women everywhere are increasingly being subjected to it. Consent, choice and respect for a woman’s body should be among the most basic notions of humanity. Yet somehow, they continue to be treated as complicated. They are not. 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”.

The clip in question is a doctored video from the film ‘Devara’, in which Kapoor starred opposite Telugu actor NTR Jr.

Kapoor also addressed the idea that a woman’s clothing gives anyone permission to photograph or digitally manipulate her in violating ways.

She continued, “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. This goes far beyond the AI videos I have dealt with over the last few days, or anything I have personally experienced throughout my career. It is about the larger reality of being a woman, the gaze, the judgement, the constant negotiation for safety, and the feeling that our boundaries somehow remain open to interpretation”.

She went on, “That threat has now expanded into the digital sphere, when we have not even adequately addressed the very real, physical fear that continues to disrupt the lives of women every day. The answer cannot simply be to “Protect your daughter.” We also need to undo the conditioning that makes people believe they are entitled to violate somebody else’s boundaries in the first place. And part of that change will come from exemplary men with the moral compass and the spine to say clearly what is right and what is wrong”, she added.

Kapoor also expressed gratitude to her ‘Devara’ co-star NTR Jr for publicly standing up for her.

“I am deeply touched by ntr sir for taking such a strong stand and condemning this violation. Thank you, sir. When someone whom millions look up to speaks up about something that may not directly concern him, it makes a difference to every woman who has experienced some degree of this behavior,” she wrote.

She also thanked actor Chiranjeevi, actor Vijay and actor-politician Khushbu Sundar for amplifying the message and calling for action against what she described as immoral practices.

“I hope everything unfolding around us right now forces those who participate in any form of harassment to introspect. Is it really too much for a woman to ask to simply be treated and seen as a human being? Her body. Her image. Her boundaries. Her choice”, she added. (IANS)