Cinema VinesFilmmaker Ram Gopal Varma took to X on 4 October 2026 to voice his opinion on the deep‑fake scandal that has engulfed actress Janhvi Kapoor. The controversy began when an AI‑generated video, using footage from the ‘Chuttamalle’ track of the film Devara Part 1, was circulated online depicting Kapoor in an inappropriate context. The clip quickly went viral, prompting a wave of condemnation from Kapoor herself, her co‑star Jr NTR, and other South‑Indian stars such as Chiranjeevi.
In his tweet, Varma criticised the celebrities’ response, arguing that “the only thing all the celebrities succeeded in is to publicise and thereby make crores and crores of people see the objectionable link.” He contended that the focus should have been on identifying and prosecuting the person who created the deep‑fake, rather than amplifying the victim’s identity and the offensive material. “The smart thing would have been to concentrate on catching the perpetrator and publicise that,” he wrote, adding that “what they did is to tweet and bring enormous attention to the victim’s identity and the offensive content which is also a crime.”
Varma’s remarks came after Kapoor released a lengthy statement on 5 October, expressing her disappointment with the cyber‑crime and calling for respect for a woman’s body. The actress’s note was met with strong support from her fans, and fellow actors echoed her stance on social media. The debate now centers on two strategies: publicly condemning deep‑fake abuse and standing with the victim, or prioritising the pursuit of the perpetrator while limiting the spread of the harmful content.
In a follow‑up tweet on 5 October, Varma added, “When you can’t WIN, you should JOIN…. If you fight A I, it will ERASE you out of EXISTENCE.” He urged a more measured approach, suggesting that collective action against the creators of AI‑generated material would be more effective than a public outcry that only serves to circulate the illicit content further.
The incident has highlighted the growing concern over AI misuse in the entertainment industry, with both sides of the argument emphasizing the need for swift and decisive action. While Kapoor and her supporters call for accountability and respect, Varma stresses the importance of targeting the source of the problem to prevent future violations.
