The glitz and glamour of Bollywood have not shielded actor Tusshar Kapoor from the ever-growing menace of online hacking. Yesterday, Tusshar Kapoor disclosed that his Facebook accounts, both public and private, had been compromised by cybercriminals. This incident adds Kapoor’s name to the expanding list of celebrities who have fallen prey to the growing wave of digital crimes.
The actor shared the troubling news via his Instagram profile, where he explained the situation to his followers. “My public and private Facebook accounts have been compromised, which has caused my recent inactivity on the platform. My team and I are doing our best to resolve the situation and regain control of the accounts. We look forward to re-engaging with you all soon,” Kapoor wrote. The nature of such digital threats underscores the vulnerability even celebrities face in the digital age.
Recent years have seen a significant uptick in the number of online hacking incidents, affecting not just ordinary citizens but also high-profile individuals. The digital boom has increased connectivity, but it has also made sensitive personal information more accessible to cybercriminals. Calls for stronger cyber laws and better digital security measures have gained momentum, as the need to curb such activities becomes ever more pressing.
Parallelly, the issue of deepfake videos is attracting increasing concern. Deepfakes—video or audio clips manipulated using artificial intelligence to show someone doing or saying something they never did—pose a formidable threat to individuals, especially public figures. These doctored clips can spread misinformation at an alarming rate. Actress Ananya Panday, who stars in Vikramaditya Motwane’s upcoming film “CTRL”, which delves into this technology, voiced her concern. “It is very scary. As public figures, our faces and voices are out there [in the public domain]. I don’t know how much we can safeguard [our mannerisms]. [Change will] come about from regulations imposed by the government. That’s probably the only solution,” she stated.
The story of how A-listers like Aamir Khan, Ranveer Singh, and Rashmika Mandanna have been victimized by deepfake technologies propels Panday’s statement to the forefront of public discourse.
In another intriguing revelation, filmmaker Aanand L Rai elaborated on the casting changes that happened during the pre-production of his 2018 film “Zero”. Originally pitched to Salman Khan, the movie eventually starred Shah Rukh Khan in the role of a vertically challenged man.
. Despite high expectations, the film didn’t perform as well as anticipated at the box office and played a role in SRK’s subsequent sabbatical from Bollywood. Rai reminisced, “I had met him [Salman], while I was working on the script. At that time, I had not finished writing the story. I met him and described the world of Zero. He liked it.” However, both Khan and Rai became preoccupied with other projects, and the discussion remained unrealized. Rai expressed his continued interest in working with Salman Khan in the future.
Meanwhile, another classic artist, legendary singer Asha Bhosle, has been grappling with digital impersonation issues. Yesterday, Bhosle alerted her fans about a fake account impersonating her on the short-form video app Tik Tok, which is no longer operational in India. “Alert to all Asha Ji fans! A fake account has been spotted going live and playing games on the Tik Tok app. Let’s report it and protect the legend’s name,” read the cautionary message, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and quick action in such situations.
As we transition from cyber threats to the world of reality TV, the buzz around “Bigg Boss” continues to engage Indian audiences. Entering its 18th season, the show promises another round of drama and entertainment. This year’s potential contestants are rumored to include several names who participated in the popular reality show “Khatron Ke Khiladi”. Khatron Ke Khiladi 14 winner Karan Veer Mehra is expected to be among the entrants, along with Krishna Shroff, Gashmeer Mahajani, and Nia Sharma. Other speculated participants include actors Shoaib Ibrahim, Padmini Kolhapure, Sameera Reddy, and Surbhi Jyoti. Salman Khan is set to renew his role as the host, with the new season likely to premiere on October 18.
In cinematic news, the crime thriller “Do Patti,” starring Kriti Sanon and Kajol, is slated for an October 25 release on Netflix. The film marks their reunion after Rohit Shetty’s “Dilwale,” in which they played sisters. This time around, Kajol steps into the shoes of a seasoned cop, while Sanon’s character is embroiled in a murder mystery. The Netflix account teased the film’s release with the caption, “Ab hoga khel shuru, lekin iss kahaani ke hai do pehlu,” indicating a complex narrative with multiple perspectives. The project is bankrolled by Sanon, Kanika Dhillon, and Netflix.
Digital threats and entertainment remain at the forefront of public interest, emphasizing the versatile and expanding avenues of both concern and distraction in today’s interconnected world.
