Rising Tide of AI Deepfakes: Nivetha Thomas, Sreeleela, and Payal Gaming Speak Out Against Digital Misuse
Rising Tide of AI Deepfakes: Nivetha Thomas, Sreeleela, and Payal Gaming Speak Out Against Digital Misuse December 18, 2025 In a disturbing wave of incidents highlighting the dark side of artificial intelligence, Telugu-Malayalam actress Nivetha Thomas has become the latest public figure to condemn the circulation of AI-generated deepfake images misusing her likeness. Her outspoken response follows similar outcries from actress Sreeleela and popular gamer Payal Dhare (known as Payal Gaming), underscoring the growing threat of non-consensual digital manipulation targeting women in the public eye. Nivetha Thomas, known for her roles in films like Vakeel Saab and 35 Chinna Katha Kaadu, took to X on December 17 to address the issue directly. She revealed that AI-generated images, based on a recent personal photograph she shared online, were being circulated without her consent. In a strongly worded statement, she described the act as "deeply disturbing, unacceptable, and unlawful,...