Actor Vijay Deverakonda has spoken out against targeted online smear campaigns directed at his upcoming film, Ranabaali, accusing his alleged detractors of funding coordinated attacks. Pointing to dozens of identical social media posts urging audiences to watch Jailer 2 instead, he argued that such uniform backlash appeared to be manufactured rather than a reflection of genuine public opinion. The two films are reportedly set to clash at the box office this Dasara. “When you see the same message being shared across reels, see it as unnatural,” the Kingdom actor said.
AI bots are going to displace you
Vijay dismissed the alleged paid trolls, warning that advances in artificial intelligence would soon render their work obsolete and urging them to find more meaningful pursuits. “Twenty people may run fifty handles each today for monetary compensation. But your work will soon be performed by AI bots. You won’t be needed then,” the Arjun Reddy star observed.
In recent days, clips from promotional interviews featuring Vijay and his wife, Rashmika Mandanna, have reportedly been used to target the couple online. Asked whether the personal attacks affected him, the actor said, “Everyone from the Prime Minister down receives negativity on social media. On October 2, I saw many videos trolling Mahatma Gandhi himself. Should Rashmika and I be affected by what comes our way?”
Not the first actor to lament ‘organised’ trolling
Organised trolling has increasingly become a concern in the Telugu film industry in recent years. Actors such as Kiran Abbavaram and Vishwak Sen have openly voiced their frustration over alleged coordinated online smear campaigns targeting their films. The K-Ramp actor, too, has called out attacks directed at his films even before their theatrical releases.
Instead of reflecting genuine audience reactions, social media conversations can be influenced by coordinated networks of accounts and paid promotions. Concerns about such practices have prompted actors and producers to question the fairness of judging a film before audiences have had a chance to watch it.
Also Read: Ranabaali Trailer: Vijay Deverakonda Leads a Folklore-backed Revolt Against British Oppression
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