Who is Shruthi Narayanan, star linked to casting couch controversy?
What's the story
Tamil actor Shruthi Narayanan is making headlines after an alleged adult video of her leaked online. This leak exposes the dark side of the casting couch culture in the Tamil film industry.
While the 14-minute clip is circulating widely, many suspect it to be AI-generated. The video, reportedly filmed during a private audition, has triggered widespread outrage on social media.
Despite attempts to control its spread, the clip has gone viral, raking in thousands of views.
Background
Narayanan's career and social media presence
Narayanan is a 24-year-old Chennai-based actor who rose to fame through Tamil TV shows such as Siragadikka Aasai before moving to films.
This popular show of Narayanan has aired 649 episodes, with its 650th scheduled for Thursday.
She has a strong social media presence with 420K followers on Instagram, where she posts about her work and life.
A professional to a fault, Narayanan has garnered appreciation from her colleagues for her dedication toward meaningful roles, not sensationalism.
Social media reaction
Narayanan's response amid the controversy
The controversy over the video has yielded mixed reactions on social media. While many condemned the alleged exploitation shown in the footage, others questioned its authenticity, arguing it may be a deepfake or a hoax.
Amid the rising controversy, Narayanan has made her Instagram account private, restricting public access to her posts and content.
Online distribution
Video's spread and digital fact-checking
Despite attempts to moderate the content, the video has continued to spread across various digital platforms, with download links popping up on unexpected sites like SoundCloud and GitHub.
Digital fact-checking organizations, including Alt News, have already flagged at least 12 altered versions of the video in circulation online.
The hashtag #ShruthiNarayananLeaked gained momentum on X/Twitter, with over 240K mentions in no time.
Industry impact
Concerns over potential harm and authenticity
As the debate over the video's authenticity rages on, a section of social media users is worried about the harm such an incident can cause.
Similar comparisons have been made to the previous incidents of popular actors, such as Trisha Krishnan and Amala Paul, which later turned out to be hoaxes.
None has confirmed the video's legitimacy so far, nor have any official complaints been made to police or industry associations.