Telugu cinema’s megastar Chiranjeevi has become the latest victim of AI-fueled digital crime after explicit deepfake videos featuring his morphed likeness surfaced online. The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered a case against unknown individuals for creating and circulating obscene, AI-generated content that falsely depicts the veteran actor in indecent scenarios.
According to officials, the complaint was filed by Chiranjeevi’s representatives after multiple manipulated videos began circulating across social media and adult websites. The clips were reportedly created using advanced deepfake tools that seamlessly stitched the actor’s face onto obscene footage — a growing menace in India’s digital space.
Police have booked the accused under sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, along with provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. The cybercrime team is currently tracing the digital footprints behind the uploads and identifying the IP addresses linked to the content.
Legal Shield Already in Place
Just weeks before the incident, Chiranjeevi had secured an interim court order protecting his personality rights, prohibiting anyone from using his name, image, or AI-generated likeness for commercial or defamatory purposes. The court’s directive now forms a crucial part of the investigation, as police look into whether the same networks defied the injunction to publish the morphed material.
Experts Warn of Deepfake Epidemic
Cyber experts have warned that such cases reflect a dangerous intersection of technology and defamation. With AI tools becoming easily accessible, deepfake pornography targeting celebrities and public figures is surging, often leading to irreparable reputational harm and emotional distress.
“This is no longer harmless experimentation with AI — it’s organised digital abuse,” said a Hyderabad-based cyberlaw expert, calling for faster legal takedown mechanisms and stricter penalties for non-consensual synthetic media.
