Javed Akhtar Slams Misleading Deepfake Video, Warns Of Legal Action

New Delhi: Bollywood lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has hit back at a deepfake video circulating online that falsely shows him wearing a "topi" and saying he has "turned to God". Akhtar took to social media to call the clip "rubbish" and said he is considering legal action against those who made and shared it.

Why has he reacted strongly?

The video, created using artificial intelligence, shows a computer-generated clip of Akhtar wearing a "topi" and making statements he never said. The veteran writer made it clear the content is fabricated and misleading, and warned that spreading such material can harm his reputation and credibility.

Taking to X on Thursday, Javed said he is "seriously considering" reporting the matter to cyber police and dragging those responsible to court. He also threatened to take action against people who forward the video.

"A fake video is in circulation showing my fake computer generated picture with a topi on my head claiming that ultimately I have turned to God. It is rubbish," he wrote.

"I am seriously considering to report this to the cyber police and ultimately dragged the person responsible for this fake news and those few who forward it to the court for damaging my reputation and credibility," he futher wrote.

A fake video is in circulation showing my fake computer generated picture with a topi on my head claiming that ultimately I have turned to God . It is rubbish . I am seriously considering to report this to the cyber police and ultimately dragged the person responsible for this…

— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) January 1, 2026

Is this part of a bigger problem?

Javed's warning comes amid growing concern over deepfakes and AI-generated content that distort reality. Celebrities in the country and around the world have increasingly been targeted by such videos and images, prompting debates about how to control misuse of artificial intelligence.

Many users on social media backed Javed's stand, saying the incident shows how easily fake content can mislead people and damage someone's public image.

Javed and Islamic scholar Mufti Shamail Nadwi, a few days ago, engaged in a high-profile public debate in New Delhi titled 'Does God Exist?' at the Constitution Club of India.