Actor Shriya Saran has opened up about the misuse of artificial intelligence to create explicit, morphed images of women, calling the practice annoying and unacceptable. In an exclusive conversation with News18, the ‘Drishyam’ and ‘RRR’ actor also reflected on how technology and the film industry have changed since her debut in 2001.

The debate around AI-generated sexual content has intensified after Janhvi Kapoor condemned an explicit AI-altered video featuring her song ‘Chuttamalle’ from ‘Devara: Part 1’. The video digitally manipulated the actor’s appearance to create sexually explicit imagery that was not part of the original song. Janhvi described the misuse of AI as deeply violating and raised concerns about the objectification of women.

ALSO READ: Janhvi Kapoor breaks silence on Chuttamalle AI video: ‘Her body. Her image. Her boundaries. Her choice’ 

Several members of the film fraternity, including Jr NTR, Chiranjeevi and Khushbu Sundar, have also voiced concerns over the incident and the wider problem of AI abuse.

Speaking exclusively to News18, Shriya Saran revealed that she, too, has been targeted by AI-generated and digitally altered images. The actor pointed out how such content often focuses on manipulating women's bodies, turning their physical appearance into a subject of online discussion.

“It's funny. Sometimes, I don't even know if it's me. They change the size of your b**bs, suddenly the cape that you were wearing is gone or your a** looks bigger. You've to take it with a pinch of salt. Having said that, it's annoying and it's not right,” she said.

While acknowledging the potential of artificial intelligence, Shriya stressed that the technology also comes with risks that cannot be overlooked.

ALSO READ: ‘Equivalent of sexual assault’: After Jr NTR, Vijay Deverakonda slams AI-morphed ‘Chuttamalle’ video

“While AI has a lot to give us and a lot to help us with, there's also a lot it can change for us. It can lead to things that can be dangerous. I think that applies to every technology. With time, we've to either learn to live with it or deal with it,” she added.

Shriya Saran on how the film industry has changed

The actor, who made her debut with ‘Ishtam’ in 2001, also reflected on how filmmaking and life on sets have evolved over the years. Recalling her early days in cinema, Shriya spoke about a time when actors had fewer comforts on location but shared more personal moments with their colleagues.

“We didn't have make-up vans. I didn't have one in my first three films. We would find a tree and sit under it and have our lunches together. It was beautiful in a way. The positive side is that I still remember my conversations with some of my co-actors and directors. We used to sit together and discuss life and books. Hum recorder laya karte the aur sab saath mein music sunte the,” she told News18.

ALSO READ: Janhvi Kapoor’s online identity gets court protection, but Delhi HC draws line at fan pages

Shriya observed that the growing use of personal devices has changed the way people interact on film sets, with shared experiences increasingly giving way to individual routines.

“Now, everyone has earphones and you don't even know what the other person is listening to. Cinema has changed a lot. The style of storytelling has changed a lot,” she said.

Shriya Saran on women behind the camera

Beyond technological advancements, Shriya identified the growing presence of women in decision-making roles as one of the more significant changes in the film industry. According to the actor, women are increasingly involved in shaping stories and deciding which projects receive financial backing.

“There are more women behind the camera than in front of it,” she pointed out.

The actor also emphasised that the representation of women in films depends on who is involved in making them, arguing that women need to have a stronger voice in the creative and financial decisions behind the camera.

“There are women deciding the kind of story that needs to be told and what they should put money in. You can make as many women-oriented stories as you want but if the people behind the camera are all men, you can't really label them as a female-led film. We've a very long way to go but change has begun,” she added.