Actress Rashmika Mandanna Demands ‘Unforgiving Punishment’ for Deepfake Offenders and AI Misuse

Rashmika Mandanna has intensified her call for stricter penalties and cybercrime laws following the proliferation of AI-generated deepfake content, an issue she became personally familiar with after a fabricated video of her went viral in November 2023.

In a recent and stern opinion shared on X (formerly Twitter), Mandanna targeted the misuse of artificial intelligence, particularly its application in creating “vulgarity and target[ing] women.” She issued a strong demand for justice, writing, “If people cannot act like humans, then strict and unforgiving punishment must be served to them.”

The actress, known for her role in The Girlfriend, emphasized the rapidly eroding trust in digital information, cautioning the public: “Remember, the internet is no longer a mirror of truth. It is a canvas where anything can be fabricated.”

Tagging Cyberdost, the official handle of the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre, Mandanna urged users to prioritize responsibility over recklessness when utilizing AI, advocating for the technology to be used to “build a more dignified and progressive society.”

Mandanna is part of a growing wave of public figures—including actor Keerthy Suresh and veteran actress Hema Malini, who raised the issue in Parliament—calling for stronger measures to combat deepfakes. The increasing frequency of morphed images and videos, which can destroy reputations and cause severe psychological harm, has placed pressure on the cybercrime department to introduce tougher legal action against offenders.