Zara Patel Responds to Rashmika Mandanna Deepfake Video Controversy

A deepfake video featuring an individual morphed to resemble actress Rashmika Mandanna has recently caused a stir online. The scenario involves a woman in black entering an elevator, her face digitally altered to appear as Rashmika Mandanna.

Notably, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan has called for legal action against those responsible, recognizing the severity of the issue. Rashmika Mandanna herself expressed deep distress about the dissemination of the deepfake video with her face edited onto someone else’s body.

In response to this controversy, Zara Patel, whose face was manipulated to resemble Rashmika, has now come forward to clarify her lack of involvement in the situation.

Zara Patel’s Reaction to the Deepfake Video

In an Instagram Story, Zara Patel shared her reaction to the deepfake video, asserting that she had no connection to its creation. Expressing her deep concern about the situation, she stated, “It has come to my attention that someone created a deepfake video using my body and a popular Bollywood actress’s face.”

Zara Patel further emphasized her non-involvement in the deepfake video and expressed her deep disturbance over the unfolding events. She raised concerns about the potential impact on the future of women and girls who may now be more apprehensive about sharing content on social media. Patel also urged everyone to take a step back and exercise caution in verifying the authenticity of content encountered on the internet, emphasizing that not everything online is genuine.

Rashmika Mandanna’s Initial Response

Prior to Zara Patel’s statement, Rashmika Mandanna had shared her reaction to the deepfake video. In a statement, she conveyed her deep concern, describing the situation as “extremely scary,” not only for her but also for anyone vulnerable to harm due to the misuse of technology. Rashmika called for a collective response to address the issue and tagged relevant authorities, including Cyberabad Police, Cyber Dost, and Maharashtra Cyber Cell, in her post.

The deepfake video controversy highlights the growing challenges associated with digital manipulation and underscores the importance of addressing such incidents to protect individuals from identity theft and privacy violations.