
New Delhi, October 17, 2025: Manoj Bajpayee endorsed a specific political party has been vehemently condemned by the Padma Shri awardee. The clip, which was widely circulated on social media platforms in the run-up to the Bihar elections, was quickly identified as a deceptive fabrication. A stern public statement was issued by the actor, in which any association or allegiance with any political group was categorically denied.
The viral footage was revealed by Bajpayee to be a “fake, patched-up edit” of an old advertisement. The original commercial had been filmed for an Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming platform, but sections of the clip were maliciously altered to convey a political message. In his clarification, which was posted on X (formerly Twitter), the actor expressed strong disapproval over the unethical use of his public persona for political campaigning.
The actor’s post was used to make a direct appeal to the public: “I sincerely appeal to everyone sharing it to stop spreading such distorted content and urge people not to engage with or encourage such misleading content.” This call to action was made to combat the rapid spread of misinformation, which is increasingly being facilitated by digital editing techniques, including deepfakes.
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The video was reportedly shared by certain political entities before the actor’s intervention. Following the firm rebuttal from Bajpayee, the manipulated video was promptly deleted by the accounts that had been distributing it. The incident has since been utilized by opposition parties to launch attacks, with accusations of circulating fake content being leveled against the party originally associated with the video.
The misuse of the actor’s image has highlighted a growing concern regarding the ethical boundaries and regulatory framework surrounding celebrity likeness in digital political campaigns. Public figures are increasingly being forced to take preemptive measures to protect their image rights against unauthorised commercial and political exploitation, and this incident is expected to prompt greater scrutiny of such manipulative practices.
Manoj Bajpayee’s swift response has been lauded by fans and fellow netizens, with many commending him for taking a stand against digital deception. The incident has served as another stark reminder of how easily sophisticated editing tools can be deployed to create and distribute misleading content, especially in the volatile environment of election season.
It is hoped that public awareness will be raised by such high-profile incidents, encouraging a more critical approach to content consumed online. Legal actions are expected to become more common as celebrities seek to have their personal and professional images better protected from being manipulated without their consent.