Rajkumar Rao Calls For Strict Laws Against Deepfake Videos

Amid the current discussions surrounding AI and the emergence of deepfake videos featuring various celebrities like Rashmika Mandanna, Aamir Khan, and Ranveer Singh, actor Rajkumar Rao has voiced his apprehension and said “there should be strict laws.”

During an interview with ANI, Rajkummar Rao also discussed his forthcoming film ‘Srikanth’, scheduled for release on May 10. When questioned about the proliferation of deepfake videos and whether he perceives this as a threat, Rao emphasized the need for stringent regulations against the misuse of Artificial Intelligence. He stressed the importance of providing comprehensive information about the utilization of AI and remarked that only a small fraction of the country’s populace is cognizant of AI.

“If someone misuses it or anything, there should be very strict laws,” he said, adding that steps should be undertaken to prevent misuse.

Rajkummar expressed being deeply moved upon learning about Srikanth’s life while discussing the movie.

“When I got to know about Srikanth’s life, when I first heard his story from Tushar, I was also very moved. I was very inspired that a person achieved so much at such a young age despite being visually impaired. So I thought this story is very important to spread to the world because we all need inspiration in our lives. Sometimes, we feel low and want to get out from the situation. Srikanth is such a character which will entertain and inspire you at the same time.”

In ‘Srikanth’, Rajkummar steps into the shoes of Srikanth Bolla, portraying the remarkable journey of the industrialist who overcame visual impairment to establish Bollant Industries. Rajkummar elaborated on his preparation process for the role.

“It was necessary. That preparation was needed for this film because I have never played a visually impaired role before. So, it all started when I started going to blind school. I started working with a lot of people who were visually impaired in real life. I sat with them for hours and talked to them. I took videos and used to watch those videos many times. Just to understand their perception and what they feel about the world and how they deal in situations. I spent a lot of time with Srikanth as I am depicting his life on screen. So, I got a lot from him which I used in my performance.”

In addition to Rajkummar Rao, the film features Jyotika and Sharad Kelkar in pivotal roles. Produced by T-Series and Chalk N Cheese Films Production LLP, it is helmed by director Tushar Hiranandani and written by Jagdeep Sidhu and Sumit Purohit.