Veteran lyricist and author Javed Akhtar has fallen prey to the dark side of artificial intelligence after a fake AI-generated video falsely attributed to him began circulating widely online. The fabricated clip shows a computer-generated image of Ahtar; topic He claims that he has “turned back to God,” but the lyricist flatly denies this statement.
Akhtar called the video “rubbish”, strongly condemned the misuse of technology and warned of legal repercussions. He said the video was not only misleading but also damaged his reputation and credibility, adding that he was seriously considering contacting cyber police to track down those behind the fake content.
In a post on X, Akhtar wrote, “A fake video is circulating showing a fake computer-generated photo of me with a topic on top of my head, ultimately claiming that I turned to God. That's bullshit. I am seriously considering reporting this to the cyber police and ultimately taking the person responsible and forwarder of this fake news to court for damaging my reputation and credibility (sic).”
The post is as follows:
The post quickly gained attention and reignited concerns that artificial intelligence could be easily exploited to misrepresent public figures. Some fans and industry insiders have expressed concern about the growing threat of deepfakes and called on authorities to take swift and strict action.
Akhtar's case is part of a larger, worrying trend. In recent months, multiple celebrities have reported cases of deepfake videos, morphed images, and fabricated audio clips disguised as their identities. Many people are forced to seek legal means to protect their image and personal beliefs.
The timing of the fake video has also raised eyebrows. The matter surfaced shortly after Akhtar participated in a public debate on Gaza, God and justice with Islamic scholar Mufti Shamari Nadwi, leading to speculation that he was deliberately trying to distort his views through manipulated content.
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