Janhvi Kapoor Reflects on Discovering Altered Images of Herself on Explicit Websites: Assumptions of Authenticity Prevail

Janhvi Kapoor, the Bollywood actor and daughter of producer Boney Kapoor and late actor Sridevi, recently delved into her experiences of growing up in the digital age and the challenges it presented. In an interview with Newslaundry, she discussed the intrusive nature of paparazzi culture and the disturbing discovery of manipulated images of herself online.

Kapoor, who has been in the spotlight since childhood due to her family's celebrity status, reflected on how paparazzi cameras have always been a part of her life. People, with or without her consent, captured moments of her and her sister Khushi Kapoor. However, things took a darker turn when she was a teenager and stumbled upon morphed photos of herself on "inappropriate, almost pornographic pages."

She expressed her concern over the prevalence of manipulated images, particularly in today's era of advanced artificial intelligence (AI). Kapoor emphasized that many individuals perceive these altered images as genuine, which deeply troubles her.

The actor also discussed how her formative years coincided with the digital boom, and her journey from childhood to adolescence was under the constant scrutiny of the internet.

Kapoor recounted a particularly unsettling incident from her school days. At the age of 10, she witnessed the negative impact of her internet presence when she entered her school's computer lab to find paparazzi images of herself on Yahoo's homepage, displayed on her classmates' computer screens. She described feeling "uncomfortable" and "ungroomed" in those photos, despite headlines proclaiming her film industry debut.

Contrary to what one might expect, this online visibility did not make her popular among her school peers; instead, it "alienated" her. Kapoor revealed that her teachers' attitudes towards her also changed. She faced misunderstandings and negative reactions from her friends, who made fun of her for not conforming to beauty standards. The experience led to questioning her self-worth from a very young age.

Janhvi Kapoor, who made her acting debut with "Dhadak" in 2018, has since starred in several films, including "Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl," "Good Luck Jerry," and "Bawaal." Through her candid revelations, she sheds light on the complexities of growing up in the digital age while navigating the world of fame and celebrity.