Janhvi Kapoor recalls finding her morphed image on porn site at 15; ‘It gets circulated as if…’

Janhvi Kapoor, 29, has opened up about a deeply unsettling experience from her teenage years, recalling how she once came across a morphed image of herself on a pornographic website. Speaking in a recent conversation with Raj Shamani, the actor also addressed the ongoing impact of AI-generated images and deepfakes on her personal and professional life. 

The actor, who has often spoken about navigating public scrutiny and online pressures, said such incidents continue to affect her despite attempts to rationalise them as part of being in the public eye.

A disturbing discovery in her teenage years

Recounting the incident, Kapoor said she was around 15 when she first encountered a manipulated image of herself online. She described the moment as confusing and unsettling, particularly because it happened in a school environment.

“I don't know if it was a deepfake, but it was something like that. I saw a picture of me on a porn site. We had IT class in school, and boys used to go on those sites for fun. My pictures were on there. And this was in school. So that was a weird experience," she said.

Reflecting on how she processed the situation at the time, Kapoor added, “At some point, I was like – this is the cost you have to pay. There is no morality in a lot of these things with social media,"

Struggles with AI-generated images

Kapoor also spoke about the growing prevalence of AI-generated visuals and how they continue to circulate widely online. While she has tried to view such incidents as an occupational hazard, she admitted they still leave a lasting emotional impact.

“I am not at peace with it. There are visuals of me out there, even shared by official news pages, which are completely AI. I have never worn those clothes or been photographed like that."

She explained that such fabricated images can blur perceptions and create misconceptions about her choices and boundaries.

Impact on professional decisions

According to Kapoor, the existence of these manipulated visuals can affect how she is perceived within the film industry. She noted that even unspoken assumptions based on such images can influence professional interactions.

“It gets circulated as if it's something I've put out. That creates a certain kind of impression. If tomorrow I tell a director I'm not comfortable wearing something, someone can pull up those pictures and say, ‘But you've done this before.' Even if they don't say it, it makes you think."

Silence and public perception

While acknowledging the emotional toll, Kapoor said she often feels constrained in speaking out about the issue. She pointed to a broader attitude that discourages public figures from voicing discomfort.

“It upsets me, of course,” she said. But over time, she has found ways to deal with it. “I feel like I don't have that much of a voice to complain. There's this attitude, you've got so much in life, thoda seh lo, don't complain. So I don't think my voice has that credibility yet. There will be backlash, and it might take away from the cause," she expressed.

Kapoor added that she is not alone in facing such challenges. Several actors in the film industry are increasingly voicing concern over the rapid rise of deepfake abuse and the misuse of artificial intelligence. Alongside Janhvi Kapoor, others have publicly condemned the circulation of manipulated videos and explicit AI-generated imagery. Actors such as Rashmika Mandanna have previously called out viral morphed clips, while reports say Aishwarya Rai Bachchan considered legal action after doctored content portraying her surfaced online. Veteran star Anil Kapoor has also secured court orders to protect his personality rights against unauthorised digital use.

The concerns extend beyond India. Internationally, performers including Scarlett Johansson have warned about the ease with which deepfake technology can be exploited, urging stronger safeguards for artists and public figures.

On the professional front, Janhvi was most recently seen in ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’, directed by Shashank Khaitan. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Varun Dhawan, Sanya Malhotra and Rohit Saraf.