The world of social media has witnessed another setback for celebrities as Bollywood actor Tusshar Kapoor announced yesterday that he has become the latest victim of online hacking. The actor revealed that his Facebook accounts, both public and private, have been compromised, resulting in his recent absence from the platform. Tusshar Kapoor took to Instagram to inform his followers about the incident and assured them that efforts are being made to resolve the situation and re-establish control over his accounts.
Tusshar Kapoor stated, “My public and private Facebook accounts have been compromised, which has caused my recent inactivity on the platform. My team and I are doing our best to resolve the situation and regain control of the accounts. We look forward to re-engaging with you all soon.” This breach is a grim reminder of the increasing cyber threats faced by public figures in the age of digital ubiquity.
Cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly pressing issue as more and more celebrities fall prey to online hackers. In light of Tusshar Kapoor’s predicament, the matter has once again drawn attention to the urgent need for better digital security practices. Just recently, iconic singer Asha Bhosle also fell victim to cyber impersonation on the short-form video app, Tik Tok, which is officially banned in India. The singer warned her admirers about a fake account pretending to be her and urged them to report and protect her name. “Alert to all Asha Ji fans! A fake account has been spotted going live and playing games on the Tik Tok app. Let’s report it and protect the legend’s name,” Asha Bhosle shared.
On another front, Bollywood filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane’s upcoming film CTRL delves into the alarming realm of deepfake videos, an increasingly prevalent cyber threat. Actress Ananya Panday, the protagonist in this film, expressed her concerns over the misuse of technology. She asserted that the onus to control these misuses lies with the government. “It is very scary. As public figures, our faces and voices are out there [in the public domain]. I don’t know how much we can safeguard [our mannerisms]. [Change will] come about from regulations imposed by the government. That’s probably the only solution,” Ananya Panday remarked. This perspective underscores how critical legislative measures are in combating online crimes.
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In related news, director Aanand L Rai shed light on the initial plans for Shah Rukh Khan’s 2018 film, Zero. He revealed that the role was initially intended for Salman Khan. “I had met him [Salman], while I was working on the script. At that time, I had not finished writing the story. I met him and described the world of Zero. He liked it,” Rai disclosed. However, as both got busy with their respective projects, the collaboration did not materialize. Zero, featuring Shah Rukh Khan as a vertically challenged man, did not perform well at the box office and was one of the reasons for Shah Rukh’s hiatus from Bollywood.
The issue of online impersonation isn’t limited to veteran actors and singers. Reality television shows, such as Bigg Boss, are also not immune. As the show’s 18th season approaches, rumors about potential contestants are rife. Participants from another reality show, Khatron Ke Khiladi, are speculated to be making an appearance. Khatron Ke Khiladi 14 winner Karan Veer Mehra and his former co-contestants Krishna Shroff, Gashmeer Mahajani, and Nia Sharma are expected to join Bigg Boss 18. Other anticipated participants include actors Shoaib Ibrahim, Padmini Kolhapure, Sameera Reddy, and Surbhi Jyoti. Salman Khan is set to continue his long-standing role as the host, with the new season likely to premiere on October 18.
In the cinematic arena, the Netflix original film Do Patti, starring Kriti Sanon and Kajol, is generating buzz ahead of its October 25 release. This feature marks the actors’ second collaboration after Rohit Shetty’s 2015 film Dilwale, where they played sisters. In Do Patti, Kajol dons the role of a seasoned police officer, while Kriti Sanon plays a murder suspect. “Ab hoga khel shuru, lekin iss kahaani ke hai do pehlu,” read the intriguing caption on Netflix’s Instagram account, accompanied by a teaser clip.
As digital crime continues to unfairly target celebrities, their experiences spotlight the necessity for more stringent cybersecurity measures. It underscores the urgency for both individual digital hygiene and robust governmental regulations to safeguard identity and privacy in an increasingly interconnected world.
