Yami Gautam objects to AI-generated photos:Actress says ‘Use my public images in original form’

National Award-winning actress Yami Gautam has urged media organisations and social media platforms not to alter her photographs using artificial intelligence (AI). In a post on X on Sunday, she requested that pictures from her public appearances be used in their original form, without AI-based changes or enhancements. Yami’s statement comes at a time when the use of AI to create or modify celebrity images has sparked concern. The issue has also come into focus following controversies involving deepfake and AI-generated content featuring actors such as Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Janhvi Kapoor. Yami Gautam’s statement Yami wrote, “A humble request to the media. Please refrain from altering or enhancing my photographs taken at public events using AI. Please use the photographs only in their original form. AI should not be used to alter or manipulate a person’s photograph or appearance without their knowledge and consent. Thank you in advance for respecting my request!” Bombay High Court order in Samantha’s favour The issue of the misuse of actresses’ photographs and identities is continuing to grow. Recently, the Bombay High Court directed social media platforms to immediately remove objectionable content related to actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. This included AI-generated deepfakes and advertisements created using her name and face without permission. The court held that the commercial use of a celebrity’s identity without permission is not permissible. Objectionable deepfake made using Janhvi Kapoor’s song Recently, an edited deepfake video of the song ‘Chuttamalle’ from Junior NTR and Janhvi Kapoor’s film ‘Devara: Part 1’ went viral. In the video, Janhvi Kapoor’s face was digitally altered using AI and shown in an objectionable manner. After the video went viral, Junior NTR issued a statement on Saturday expressing strong displeasure over it. He wrote that he would take every possible legal action against those who had created and circulated the morphed video of ‘Chuttamalle’. He said he would not spare any of them. As the matter escalated, the video was removed from social media. Vijay Deverakonda expresses anger over the video Vijay Deverakonda expressed outrage over the deepfake video of ‘Chuttamalle’, calling it an extremely serious matter. He said strict legal action should be taken against those who made the video and that they should not be spared. He questioned how people had become so insensitive to putting one another down. Vijay said AI was being used to create such nonsense amid concerns that people could lose their jobs. He equated such deepfakes with digital sexual harassment and said the law should treat such cases with the utmost seriousness. Chiranjeevi said, “It happened to someone else today; tomorrow, it could happen to us.” Veteran Telugu film industry actor Chiranjeevi has also condemned the misuse of AI. In a social media post, he described such content as cruel, shameful and completely unacceptable. He said this was not just an issue involving one woman or one film. It had happened to someone else today, but tomorrow it could happen to you, me or someone we know. Chiranjeevi said that those who create such videos and deliberately circulate them should face legal action. He also rejected the idea of treating them as a joke or entertainment. He said a committee and a support cell would be formed in collaboration with the Telugu Film Chamber, Producers Council and industry organisations. The team will work with cybercrime officials. He appealed to people to report the videos to the relevant platforms and cybercrime officials instead of viewing, downloading or sharing them. AI-generated posts have been created featuring several celebrities It is worth noting that several celebrities have fallen victim to AI-generated content, including Rashmika Mandanna, Nora Fatehi and Madhuri Dixit. In May, South Indian actress Rukmini Vasanth had reacted angrily to fake AI-generated videos and pictures. Rukmini shared a note on her X account, writing, “My team and I have seen some AI-generated pictures on social media that are being claimed to be mine. I want to make it clear that these pictures are completely fake and fabricated. Creating and spreading such edited pictures is highly irresponsible. It is also a serious violation of someone’s privacy.” She further wrote, “We are taking this matter seriously. Legal and cybercrime action is being initiated against those who created and circulated these pictures. I appeal to everyone not to share or promote such content.” In May 2026, a video showing Madhuri Dixit in a revealing black dress went viral. It was later declared completely fake and AI-generated by a fact-check and Twitter (X)’s Community Note. In November 2023, a video of Rashmika went viral, showing her entering a lift dressed in black. The video was completely fake. The original video belonged to British-Indian social media influencer Zara Patel. Artificial intelligence deepfake technology was used to replace Zara’s face with Rashmika’s. Delhi Police also arrested one accused in the case. A fake video of Nora Fatehi also emerged in January 2024, in which her face and voice were misused to endorse a clothing brand. She confirmed that it was fake by posting about it on Instagram herself.