The actress appeals to media to use her images in original form, days after AI-manipulated videos of Janhvi Kapoor and Jr NTR sparked outrage.
Yami Gautam has issued a public appeal to media outlets, asking them not to use artificial intelligence to alter or enhance her photographs from public appearances. The request, made on October 4 via her X (formerly Twitter) account, came amid growing alarm over the misuse of AI in creating manipulated digital content involving celebrities.
Her post read: “A sincere request to the media. Please refrain from using AI to alter or enhance my photographs from public appearances. Kindly use images in original form. Altering or manipulating an individual’s image or likeness using AI should not be done without their knowledge and consent.
Thank you in advance for respecting my request!” The statement follows a wave of controversy surrounding digitally altered videos circulating online, including a version of the Chuttamalle song from Devara: Part 1 that featured Janhvi Kapoor and Jr NTR with explicit edits not present in the original film. Jr NTR condemned the video publicly, stating he would take legal action, while other industry figures like Chiranjeevi and Vijay Deverakonda also voiced strong opposition to the unauthorized use of AI to distort likenesses.
Yami’s intervention is not isolated — she recently earned the National Film Award for Best Actress at the 72nd National Film Awards for her performance in Article 370, a film produced by her husband, filmmaker Aditya Dhar. That role cemented her status as one of the most acclaimed performers in Indian cinema today.
Now, she’s preparing to step into a new phase with Nayyi Navelli, a film directed by Balaji Mohan, marking his Bollywood debut and return to filmmaking after more than seven years. The movie also stars Addinath M. Kothare, Anurag Thakur, Sunita Rajwar, Mita Vasisth, Aaditya Kulshreshth, Susmita Mukherjee, and Prateek Pachori.
Scheduled for release worldwide on October 16, the film has already generated buzz, particularly after the release of its trailer, which showcased Yami in a haunting avatar as a daayan, a supernatural entity. Her recent cameo in Dhurandhar: The Revenge further signals her continued presence across multiple projects. With the industry grappling with the ethical boundaries of digital representation, Yami’s stance points to a broader demand: control over one’s own image.
She isn’t just asking for respect. She’s asserting it. And as Nayyi Navelli approaches, the question isn’t just what the film will do at the box office, but how the media chooses to show her when it does.
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