Vidya Balan Online ID Used in Extortion Racket
The Bollywood star has discovered that her online accounts are being used to extract money.
Weeks after cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar notified police about a deepfake scam using his likeness in a game app-promoting video, another Mumbai celebrity has been dragged into similar malfeasance. Vidya Balan, who has carved a niche for herself in Bollywood for her unique portrayal of women, has discovered that she and her fans are being taken for the proverbial ride by a mysterious party online. The Dirty Picture star has alerted local police about this unknown person or persons operating a fake Instagram account in her name.
The faceless miscreant has been using the account to extract money from fans and people associated with the Hindi film industry under false pretences. This hidden racketeer has apparently been assuring Balan’s large following on the social media platform of providing them jobs. Several of these have taken the bait, losing money in the process. Cops from the Khar locality of Mumbai have filed the case under section 66 (C) of the IT Criminal Code and have launched an investigation.
Balan, who is extremely popular on Instagram and enjoys connecting with fans online, regularly puts out reels and videos on the forum. But this publicity-enhancing and fan-bonding activity has evidently backfired, leaving some of her following sceptical as to the authenticity of the posts in her name. Meanwhile, on the work front, the female lead hasn’t scored a big hit since 2019’s biopic Mission Mangal.
Married to film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur since 2012, the Parineeta star has been balancing family and work. Having just wrapped up shooting for the romantic comedy Do Aur Do Pyar, Balan is next scheduled to return for the second sequel of the comedy of terrors Bhool Bhulaiyaa - alongside Kartik Aaryan. That should make for an explosive Diwali, 2024.
