A viral video claiming to showcase Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan’s views on India’s political climate has been debunked as fake, with investigations confirming it to be manipulated using AI-generated voice technology.
The video, which gained significant traction on social media, falsely suggested that the “Angry Young Man” of Indian cinema had taken a stance on sensitive political matters. However, thorough checks of Bachchan’s official social media platforms and credible news outlets revealed no evidence of the actor making such statements.
The misleading clip featured a watermark reading “Appu Patel BJP,” leading investigators to a profile known for creating similar content. It combined visuals from unrelated sources with an AI-generated voice imitating Bachchan’s iconic tone.
Using AI detection tools like TrueMedia and Hive Moderation, experts confirmed the voice was not authentic. Hive Moderation, in particular, reported a 99.9% probability that the audio was artificially generated, exposing the manipulation.
On X (formerly Twitter), reactions poured in. One user wrote, “Wonder what are the legal and copyright aspects of this? The future is going to be a challenging ride for original creators and copyright owners, and also for the consumers in terms of discerning original vs synthesised.” Another commented, “wait till they get sued.”
Bachchan has not publicly commented on the video, and his team has yet to release an official statement. Fans were quick to defend the actor, emphasising his history of staying apolitical in public discourse.
This incident highlights the growing dangers of AI-generated misinformation. While AI voice cloning is increasingly sophisticated, its misuse raises serious concerns. Experts warn of legal and ethical challenges ahead, urging media literacy and fact-checking to combat false narratives.
One X user aptly summarised, “Future is going to be a challenging ride for original creators and copyright owners.
While the fake video grabbed headlines, the actor is focused on his film career. He was recently seen in the Tamil action drama Vettaiyan, alongside Rajinikanth, Rana Daggubati, and Fahadh Faasil.