New Delhi: Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has reacted to the doctored video of himself going viral on social media, where he can be seen campaigning for a political party ahead of the impending Lok Sabha elections. The actor has also lodged an FIR with the Cyber Crime Cell of the Mumbai Police regarding the matter.
The controversial advertisement features an AI-generated deep fake video of the Bollywood superstar, targeting the ruling BJP over their promise of Rs 15 lakh in every citizen's account. The makers with the help of AI have used a clip from an episode of the Aamir Khan-hosted TV show 'Satyamev Jayate', which aired a decade ago.
Aamir Khan's spokesperson calls the video "fake and untrue"
In a statement issued to the media, Aamir's spokesperson said, "We want to clarify that Mr Aamir Khan has never endorsed any political party throughout his 35-year career. He has dedicated his efforts to raising public awareness through Election Commission public awareness campaigns for many past elections. We are alarmed by the recent viral video alleging that Aamir Khan is promoting a particular political party. He would like to clarify that this is a fake video and totally untrue."
He further added, "He has reported the matter to various authorities related to this issue, including filing an FIR with the Cyber Crime Cell of the Mumbai Police. Mr Khan would like to urge all Indians to come out and vote and be an active part of our electoral process."
Aamir Khan's deepfake video
In the 31 second video, Aamir Khan can be heard saying, "If you think that India is a poor country, you are wrong. Every citizen of this country is a lakhpati (a person who owns lakhs of rupees). Every person should have at least Rs 15 lakh with them."
Aamir's statement can be considered a clear jibe at PM Narendra Modi's claim of providing every citizen with Rs 15 lakh. The video ends with the actor's appeal to vote for Congress.
Check out the deepfake video here:
Upon closer scrutiny, discrepancies in the video become evident, signaling its doctored nature. Not only does Aamir appear noticeably younger than his current self, but his lip movements often fail to sync with the audio, indicating dubbing.
Here's the original video:
However, it's important to note that the original video bears similarities. Originally shot as a promo for an episode of his talk show Satyamev Jayate, Aamir discusses the concept that every citizen in the country is akin to a crorepati, and should ideally possess at least Rs 1 crore. He then suggests that viewers may not have attained this amount and invites them to tune in to the show to explore why.