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Renowned Indian actor R Madhavan recently opened up about an incident where he fell for an AI-generated video featuring football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli. In an interview with Zee TV, Madhavan recalled how he was deceived by a deepfake clip that appeared to show Ronaldo showering immense praise on Kohli’s batting prowess. The video seemed so authentic that he had no reason to question its legitimacy and went ahead to share it on Instagram, only to later discover that it was a manipulated creation of artificial intelligence.
R. Madhavan’s embarrassment: Anushka Sharma’s timely intervention reveals the truth
Madhavan admitted that he was completely convinced by the video, which depicted Ronaldo speaking at length about his admiration for Virat Kohli. The clip featured the football icon reportedly expressing how much he enjoyed watching Kohli bat and describing him as a “legend” of the game. The actor, who was deeply moved by the supposed tribute, decided to proudly share the video with his followers on social media, believing it to be a genuine acknowledgment from Ronaldo himself.
However, soon after posting it, he received a direct message from Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, who is also Kohli’s wife, informing him that the video was entirely fake and created using advanced AI technology. Anushka’s timely intervention saved Madhavan from further embarrassment, as she pointed out the flaws in the video that exposed its artificial nature. The actor, taken aback by this revelation, realized that he had unknowingly fallen victim to a deepfake scam. He acknowledged that he had been completely misled, despite considering himself well-aware of online misinformation.
“Yeah, in fact, one of the Reels that I saw had somebody praising Virat Kohli to high heavens. In fact, I think it was Ronaldo…how much he enjoyed watching Kohli bat and how much of a legend he thought he was. And I proudly forwarded that, I put it on Instagram and then I got a message from Anushka saying bhai, it’s a fraud, it’s AI,” Madhavan said.
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Strong warning on AI-generated content
He further highlighted the growing dangers of deepfake technology, warning that such AI-generated content could easily manipulate people into believing false narratives. He emphasized the importance of verifying information before sharing it online, stressing that even realistic-looking videos could be deceptive.
“It’s really embarrassing. So even somebody like me who is pretty aware was completely taken away. And then, when she told me the flaws, I realised, ‘Arey haan, yeh toh bada gadbad hain (This is an issue)’. So one has to be very careful that whatever you’re forwarding is very credible,” Madhavan concluded.
Virat Kohli’s genuine admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo
Interestingly, while this particular video was proven to be fake, Kohli has often spoken about his deep admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo in the past. Kohli has openly referred to Ronaldo as the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) on multiple occasions, praising his unparalleled work ethic, commitment to fitness, and competitive mindset. Kohli has drawn inspiration from Ronaldo’s discipline, often citing the Portuguese footballer as a role model for his own approach to the game. However, this incident serves as a reminder that in today’s digital landscape, not everything seen or shared on the internet is authentic.
