A song sequence created for the screen can be turned into something its actor never consented to. That is the disturbing reality highlighted by an AI-manipulated video featuring Janhvi Kapoor, made using footage from Chuttamalle, her song with Jr NTR from Devara: Part 1. The video, which altered her appearance to portray her in a sexually explicit manner, prompted the actor to describe the misuse of technology to objectify women as “deeply violating” and “bordering on sexual assault”.Janhvi’s response has brought renewed attention to a problem that extends far beyond one actor or one fabricated video. For women in the public eye, digital abuse can take the form of sexually explicit messages, sustained trolling, cyberstalking, impersonation, threats and manipulated images that circulate without their consent. As artificial intelligence makes it easier to fabricate convincing visual content, questions about bodily autonomy, digital identity and accountability have become increasingly urgent. The experiences of women in entertainment also raise a larger question: when visibility makes someone a target, who is responsible for ensuring that the digital space remains safe?
