A recently surfaced viral video purportedly featuring Bollywood star Aamir Khan lambasting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and endorsing the Indian National Congress ahead of India’s 2024 general elections has been revealed as a fabricated deepfake.
The 31-second clip, circulated widely on social media platforms, depicts Khan making provocative statements such as “Every citizen in this country is a lakhpati (millionaire)” and questioning the whereabouts of promised funds. It concludes with a call to vote for the Congress party.
The origin of the video traces back to an episode of Khan’s television show, “Satyameva Jayate,” where he actually discussed issues related to India’s wealth distribution. Upon closer examination, discrepancies in the audio were noted, including phrases mismatched with Khan’s lip movements and the repetition of the show’s title music.
Investigations led to the discovery of the original clip from “Satyameva Jayate,” debunking the manipulated content in the viral video. Alterations included substituting “1 crore” with “15 lakh” and changing the show’s promotional message to criticize political promises.
The deepfake technology used in crafting this misleading video highlights growing concerns over digital manipulation and its potential impact on public perception, especially during sensitive political periods like elections.
In response to the controversy, Aamir Khan’s spokesperson denounced the video as “fake and completely untrue.” Khan, known for his non-political stance throughout his career, emphasized his neutrality in endorsing any political party. He has taken legal action by filing an FIR with the Mumbai Police Cyber Crime Cell.
This incident underscores the importance of media literacy and vigilance in discerning authentic content from manipulated material, particularly in the context of political campaigns. As the election approaches, authorities are expected to intensify efforts to combat misinformation and safeguard the integrity of democratic processes.
Sources By Agencies