‘Viral Sensation’ & Aamir Khan’s Taare Zameen Par Co-Star Girija Oak Raises Serious Concern Over Her Morphed Images

Mumbai — Marathi actress Girija Oak, known for her role in Taare Zameen Par and recently dubbed the internet’s new “viral girl,” has spoken out about the dark side of sudden online fame. She posted a video on social media expressing deep concern over her photos being morphed using AI.

In her video message, Girija said she feels overwhelmed by the sudden attention. “For the past few days, I’ve been confused about what’s happening on social media. A lot of attention has suddenly come my way. Along with this, I’m receiving a lot of love — beautiful messages, comments, and DMs. My family and friends also keep sending me different posts, images, and memes,” she said.

However, she pointed out that some of these viral posts are inappropriate. “Some are creative and funny, but some are very vulgar. My photos are being morphed using AI and posted online. I am a woman of this generation; I use social media and understand how things trend. When something goes viral, everyone gets pulled into that wave. More clicks mean more views — that’s how the game works. I understand this.”

Her main worry, she explained, is the long-term impact. “There are no rules for this game, and that scares me. I have a 12-year-old son. He’s not on social media today, but he will be in a few years. These edited, vulgar images — they may go viral for a day, but they will exist on the internet forever. When my son grows up and sees such images, even though he’ll know they are fake, how will he feel? Everyone knows these AI images are not real, but people still enjoy looking at them. That frightens me.”

Girija added that she cannot control what people create, but she requested viewers to think before sharing or liking such content. “If you are someone who edits or posts such photos, please think about it. And even if you don’t create them but like or share them — remember, this is happening because of you. I can only request you to reflect on it.”

She ended her message with gratitude: “Thank you for listening. I am happy that because of this sudden virality, more people are discovering my work. I hope you continue giving me love, and I promise to keep working hard. See you in theatres. Bye.”

Girija Oak recently went viral for her simple yet striking look — minimal makeup, a plain saree, and a naturally charismatic presence. She is widely loved in the Marathi entertainment industry and gained national recognition for her role in Aamir Khan’s 2007 hit Taare Zameen Par.

With inputs from IANS