Fact Check: AI-Generated Photo Of Virat Kohli With Anushka Sharma Shared On Social Media With False Claim
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Several social media users shared a collage of two pictures featuring Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, claiming that the couple was seen hugging after India’s victory. The viral images were found to be AI-generated
The facial features of both of them in the first picture looked distorted, the background in both pictures was different and blurred, and the picture looked extra glossy. (PTI News)
Social media had been abuzz following India’s victory over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final. In the aftermath, several social media users shared a collage of two pictures featuring Indian cricketer Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, claiming that the couple was seen hugging after India’s victory.
However, the PTI Fact Check Desk investigation found that the viral images were AI-generated and falsely shared on social media as real.
Claim
On March 5, a Facebook user shared a collage of two pictures featuring cricketer Virat Kohli along with his wife, actress Anushka Sharma. The user claimed that the two were seen hugging each other after India’s victory against Australia.
“Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma were seen hugging after winning the match against Australia,” the post was shared with this caption.
Here is the link and archive link to the post, and below is a screenshot.
Investigation
The Desk ran the viral photo through the Reverse Image Search and found several other users shared the same photo with a similar claim on social media. Two such posts can be seen here and here, and their archived versions can be found here and here, respectively.
The Desk initially conducted a customised keyword search to verify if Anushka Sharma attended the semi-finals match against Australia. The Desk came across several reports published featuring the two, but the difference was that Sharma’s attire was not the same as seen in the viral images.
Here is a link to a report by India Today, dated March 5, 2025, whose headline read: “Watch: Virat Kohli fist pumps in joy as Anushka Sharma cheers for him”.
Below is a screenshot highlighting the same.
Taking a cue from this, the Desk carefully scanned the two viral photos and found several discrepancies suggesting that they were AI-generated or digitally altered. For instance, the facial features of both of them in the first picture looked distorted, the background in both pictures was different and blurred, and the picture looked extra glossy.
Below is a screenshot highlighting the same.
In the next part of the investigation, the Desk ran both images through Hive Moderation (an AI detection tool), which suggested a substantial presence of AI content. Below is a screenshot of the result:
Subsequently, the Desk concluded that the viral photo was AI-generated.
This story was originally published by PTI News as part of the Shakti Collective. Except for the headline/excerpt/opening introduction para, this story has not been edited by News18 staff.