Pakistani actor Imran Ashraf has had to publicly deny his own death after a fake, AI-generated video claiming he had passed away started spreading rapidly on social media. The actor took to his Instagram stories to calm his worried fans, writing that he was completely fine and calling the news fake.
The misleading clip was originally shared on a TikTok account and was made to look like a real news broadcast. In the video, a newscaster on what appeared to be a private Pakistani TV channel announced that Imran Ashraf had died of a heart attack. The same account also posted several other fake clips showing well-known journalists, cricketers, and actors offering condolences over his supposed death, making the hoax look more convincing.
Reacting to the panic the video caused, Imran wrote on Instagram, “Alhamdulillah, I am absolutely fine; it’s fake news,” and asked his followers for their prayers.
This incident adds to a growing list of cases where AI tools have been used to create fake death announcements about celebrities, causing needless fear among fans and families. It has also renewed conversations about how easily convincing fake content can now be made and shared online, and why people should verify news, especially serious claims like a person’s death, before believing or spreading it.
Imran Ashraf is one of Pakistan’s most respected actors, best known for his award-winning role as Bhola in the drama Ranjha Ranjha Kardi, along with other popular performances in dramas like Dil Lagi and Alif Allah Aur Insaan.
