Actress Yami Gautam has urged fans and netizens to stop using artificial intelligence tools to alter or enhance her photographs from public appearances, joining a growing chorus of Bollywood and Telugu film industry voices speaking out against the misuse of AI-generated content.

What Yami Said on X

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Yami wrote: 'Please refrain from using AI to alter or enhance my photographs from public appearances. Kindly use images in original form. Altering or manipulating an individual's image or likeness using AI should not be done without their knowledge and consent. Thank you in advance for respecting my request!'

The actress did not name a specific incident, but her statement came in the wake of a morphed video clip from the 'Chuttamalle' song from the Telugu blockbuster 'Devara' that circulated on social media, sparking outrage across the film industry.

Industry-Wide Pushback on AI Misuse

Yami's call follows similar statements by other prominent film personalities. Jr NTR, who stars in 'Devara', publicly condemned the fake 'Chuttamalle' video on Saturday and warned of legal action against those responsible. Actors Vijay Deverakonda and veteran Chiranjeevi also used their social media platforms to denounce the misuse of AI technology in altering celebrity images and videos.

This comes amid a broader, mounting concern across Indian entertainment circles about deepfakes and AI-manipulated content being used without the consent of public figures — a trend that has triggered calls for stronger legal safeguards.

Yami's Upcoming Film: Nayyi Navelli

Away from the controversy, Yami is set to headline the family entertainer 'Nayyi Navelli', produced jointly by Aanand L Rai and Himanshu Sharma under Colour Yellow Productions in association with Amazon MGM Studios. The film is scheduled to release in cinema halls on 16 October 2026, ahead of the Dussehra festival.

In the film, Yami plays the character Mohini. Speaking about the role, she said: 'What drew me to Mohini is that she is never quite what you expect. There's a warmth and familiarity to her, but also a mystery that slowly reveals itself.'

She added: 'Nayyi Navelli gave me the opportunity to explore a character that moves seamlessly between family, humour, emotion, fantasy and action, while still staying rooted at heart. It was a wonderful experience working with Balaji sir, Aanand sir, Himanshu, the team at Colour Yellow and Amazon MGM Studios. I'm really excited for audiences to meet Mohini this Dussehra and discover her for themselves.'

The Larger Consent Debate

Yami's statement is significant because it draws a clear line — not just against malicious deepfakes, but even against seemingly benign enhancements done without consent. Critics and digital rights advocates argue that even aesthetic AI alterations of a person's likeness without permission constitute a violation of their image rights. India currently lacks a dedicated law on deepfakes, though the government has signalled intentions to address the issue through pending digital legislation.

With the Nayyi Navelli release approaching on 16 October 2026, all eyes will be on both Yami's big-screen return and whether the industry's collective pushback prompts any regulatory response to AI-generated content.