logo
The curious case of Babydoll Archi: The AI illusion that trapped millions

The curious case of Babydoll Archi: The AI illusion that trapped millions

In a shocking incident that highlights the dark side of artificial intelligence, a mechanical engineer from Assam has been arrested for creating a fake adult entertainment persona named "Babydoll Archi" using a single photo of his ex-girlfriend. The digital deepfake, powered by AI and fuelled by social media virality, attracted over 1.4 million Instagram followers before cybercrime authorities exposed the elaborate hoax.
According to the police investigation, the accused, identified as Pratim Bora, used artificial intelligence platforms such as Midjourney AI, Desire AI, and OpenArt AI to fabricate sexually explicit visuals. He reportedly superimposed his ex-girlfriend's face onto synthetic bodies, creating lifelike but fake pornographic content. These manipulated images and videos were uploaded to Instagram and other subscription-based adult platforms, attracting widespread attention, and eventually, scrutiny.
It all started with a saree reel that went viral
Babydoll Archi was launched in August 2020, but it only went viral recently after a saree transformation reel—synced to a catchy Spanish song—exploded in popularity in late June 2025. The reel's success was followed by an AI-generated photo showing the fictional 'Archi' alongside well-known adult star Kendra Lust, fueling a massive surge in engagement.
Within days, followers skyrocketed from 82,000 to over 1.2 million—drawing in curious viewers and eventually triggering alarms across cyber monitoring platforms.
Babydoll Archi: Fabricated backstory to fuel believability
To make the account seem authentic, Bora crafted a detailed backstory for Babydoll Archi. The profile claimed she had escaped six years of prostitution from Delhi's infamous GB Road and was paying ₹25 lakh to buy her freedom. The posts were geotagged to Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai, and AI-generated content showed 'Archi' supposedly travelling across the country. In July, sensing possible exposure, Bora renamed the account to 'Amira Ishtara' in an attempt to evade detection.
The strategy worked—until it didn't.
Victim files cyber defamation case
The case came to light after the woman whose face was used filed a cyber defamation complaint in Dibrugarh, Assam. This led to Bora's arrest on July 12 from Tinsukia.
He is currently in police custody and will be presented in court shortly. Investigators are now examining his financial records, digital footprint, and other accounts. Forensic teams are working to trace the full extent of the AI-driven content production and its monetisation.
'On meticulous investigation, we can say all photos and videos circulated on social media are fake and have been made using AI software,' said Dibrugarh SSP-in-charge Sajal Agarwal in an official statement.
SSP Agarwal also issued a public warning that individuals who share, forward, or post abusive comments on the fake content may also face legal consequences.
'What may seem like fun content can cause real mental harm,' she added, while urging people to follow basic cyber safety practices and report suspicious content promptly.
Who is Assam-based Pratim Bora?
At the heart of the digital deception is 29-year-old Pratim Bora, a mechanical engineer from Tinsukia, Assam, who had been working remotely for a Delhi-based company after completing his studies in Haryana. His double life came crashing down when Dibrugarh Police arrested him on July 12, following a cyber defamation complaint filed by the woman whose photo was misused.
According to SSP Sajal Agarwal, Bora meticulously built the fake persona of Babydoll Archi using a single image of his former partner. He used AI software to morph explicit visuals and manufacture synthetic content, growing the account into a viral sensation for personal profit.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Cancelled. Hansal Mehta Calls It "Cruel Irony"
MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Cancelled. Hansal Mehta Calls It "Cruel Irony"

NDTV

time12 minutes ago

  • NDTV

MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Cancelled. Hansal Mehta Calls It "Cruel Irony"

The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, a prominent platform for Indian and international cinema, has been cancelled for 2025. The organisers made the announcement in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta expressed his disappointment over the festival's cancellation. Hansal Mehta shared the MAMI organisers' official statement on the matter on Instagram, which read, "This is to inform you that the 2025 edition of MAMI Mumbai Film Festival will not take place as we are in the process of revamping the festival with a dynamic vision and a new team to ensure that the festival returns as a premier showcase for the best of independent, regional and classic cinema from Indian and around the world." It added, "We are working diligently to reschedule the festival and will announce the new dates for the 2026 edition as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and support." Hansal Mehta strongly criticised the MAMI Film Festival's cancellation. In the caption, the filmmaker wrote, "It's a cruel irony that Mumbai draped in the glitz of being India's financial and cinematic capital cannot keep alive a film festival of its own. Abandoned by the self-appointed gatekeepers of cinema who chased shinier stages and safer bets it was left in the hands of a few passionate believers to run on pure faith. And now that fragile flame has been snuffed out." He added, "No ceremony. No outrage. Just a slow, silent forgetting. What should have been a cultural cornerstone has been reduced to a footnote - another casualty of apathy dressed as progress." Take a look: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hansal Mehta (@hansalmehta) Reacting to his post, filmmaker Onir wrote, "Heartbreaking that the industry that produces the largest number of films … failed to nurture this space that celebrated cinema as a form of art … beyond box office and stars. What a loss for the city and a shame for us as an industry." The MAMI Mumbai Film Festival was launched in 1997 by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI), a public trust based in the city. Over the years, stars like Aamir Khan made financial contributions to the festival, while celebrities like Priyanka Chopra and Kiran Rao served as Chairpersons of the event. In 2023, the festival was sponsored by Jio, but they opted out as title sponsor last year. The 2024 edition of the event was substantially smaller than prior editions.

Tara Sutaria And Veer Pahariya Seemingly Confirm Dating Rumours: "My Heart"
Tara Sutaria And Veer Pahariya Seemingly Confirm Dating Rumours: "My Heart"

NDTV

time12 minutes ago

  • NDTV

Tara Sutaria And Veer Pahariya Seemingly Confirm Dating Rumours: "My Heart"

New Delhi: Tara Sutaria seemingly confirmed her relationship with rumoured boyfriend Veer Pahariya. What's Happening Tara shared behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot of her music video with AP Dhillon on Instagram. In the pictures, she can be seen in a golden, backless halter-neck mini dress with a thigh-high slit. AP Dhillon wore a crisp white shirt with a loose bow tie. Tara captioned the post with lyrics from the song, " Tu hi ae chann. Meri raat ae tu." Veer Pahariya commented on the post, "My," with a star and red heart emoji. Tara responded, "Mine," adding an evil eye and red heart emoji. The exchange quickly went viral, with many social media users taking it as confirmation of their relationship. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TARA💫 (@tarasutaria) Background Tara was previously in a relationship with Aadar Jain. Speculation about her dating Veer began when they were seen leaving the same restaurant separately after a dinner outing. Earlier this month, the two walked the ramp as showstoppers at a fashion event. They also reportedly vacationed together in Capri, Italy, and shared similar yacht pictures on Instagram, further fuelling the rumours. Before Thodi Si Daaru, Tara appeared in the music video Pyaar Aata Hai with Ishaan Khatter, also sung by Shreya Ghoshal. In terms of acting, she was last seen in Apurva, co-starring Abhishek Banerjee and Rajpal Yadav, which is currently streaming on JioCinema. Although she was earlier linked to Yash's upcoming film Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, Tara later clarified that she is not part of the project.

What the Super Bowl halftime show and success of F1: The Movie prove about the amalgamation of sport, fashion, music and entertainment
What the Super Bowl halftime show and success of F1: The Movie prove about the amalgamation of sport, fashion, music and entertainment

Indian Express

time12 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

What the Super Bowl halftime show and success of F1: The Movie prove about the amalgamation of sport, fashion, music and entertainment

In early May, Spanish football giants Barcelona unveiled a striking collaboration with Travis Scott, releasing limited-edition jerseys featuring the American rapper's Cactus Jack logo for the El Clásico clash. Only 1,899 units priced at €399.99 and 22 signed jerseys at €2,999.99 were released. The kits were sold out within half an hour, earning Barcelona over €1.5 million. Resale prices surged, with home jerseys traded at $2,000–3,000, while away versions ranged between $1,600 and 2,000. This was in comparison to a standard FC Barcelona Dri-FIT match jersey, which retails at around €195 or even less on Indian platforms. The collaboration allowed Barcelona to tap into Scott's global fanbase and build a narrative that went beyond football. It also introduced the artist to a new segment of fans and generated substantial media coverage for both parties. Such partnerships are not only about merchandise, they are about integrating entertainment and fashion into sports ecosystems. In recent years, the Super Bowl halftime show has increasingly become the centre of attention, often overshadowing the game itself. This year, on February 9, Super Bowl LIX featured Kendrick Lamar as its halftime headliner, drawing 133.5 million viewers — surpassing the game's average viewership of 127.7 million, itself a record for a Super Bowl. The halftime viewership peaked at 137.7 million and surpassed Michael Jackson's 1993 record of 129.3 million. Lamar's performance led to an immediate 175 percent spike in Spotify streams, with the 'Not Like Us' song alone resulting in an increase of 430 percent. Within 24 hours, Lamar became the most-streamed global artist, while singer-songwriter SZA reached No. 2 in the US charts. The amalgamation of sports, fashion and music is no longer a trend, but a calculated use of power in today's cultural landscape. What was once a clear distinction between athletes, musicians, and designers has now transformed into a permeable space where collaborations are not just common, but expected. From stadiums to streaming platforms, from limited-edition sneakers to halftime performances, the convergence of these industries is reshaping how audiences engage with sport, not merely as spectators, but as consumers of a broader cultural experience. This shift is especially evident at major global events and high-profile collaborations, where music, artists and fashion labels now play a central role in the branding and marketing of sports. While the Super Bowl highlights this connection in American football, a similar relationship has long existed between basketball and fashion, particularly through the sneaker culture. The Air Jordan brand, introduced by Nike in 1985, revolutionised the way basketball merchandise was perceived. No longer just sportswear, Air Jordans became desirable fashion items. Since its creation, the brand has sold over 130 million pairs of shoes and has generated over $3.1 billion in revenue. Beyond initial sales, the resale market for Jordans has created a parallel economy, valued in billions of dollars. Certain models, such as the Jordan 1, 4, and 11, continue to be popular across generations. This evolution has expanded the sport's appeal to audiences who may not be traditional basketball fans, with sneakers acting as a way to get interested in the sport itself. Scott's entry into sneaker culture is another example of this cultural synergy. His 2017 Air Jordan 4 'Cactus Jack', released before his Astroworld breakout, and subsequent Air Jordan 1 and 6 models, became market sensations. Scott's AJ1 Retro High is now StockX's eighth best-selling AJ1, trading at an average $1,093, representing a 524 percent premium over retail, and totalling over 21,000 trades. The AJ1 Low averaged $776 resale (499 percent premium), while the AJ6 Retro averaged $1,279 with a 412 percent premium. These figures far exceed typical sneaker collaborations, confirming Scott's pull in merging music, fashion and the sport culture. Another representation of this convergence is the Apple-produced film F1: The Movie, which released on June 27. With a production and distribution budget exceeding $250 million, it has grossed $397.6 million globally, making it Apple's first major theatrical success. Its marketing featured brand tie-ins with companies like IWC Schaffhausen, Tommy Hilfiger, GEICO, and EA Sports, together contributing at least $40 million in sponsorship value. Apple's renewed interest prompted it to bid over $150 million annually for US Formula 1 streaming rights starting 2026, outbidding ESPN. F1's US television audience has more than doubled since 2018, now averaging 1.3 million viewers per race, a growth accelerated by the documentary 'Drive to Survive' and the new film. These examples point to a broader shift in how sport is consumed and marketed. Increasingly, sporting events serve as launchpads for artists, designers and brands. The appeal of sport is no longer limited to the game itself; it extends to what surrounds it such as music performances, clothing releases, and digital engagement. Artists gain exposure to large audiences, brands benefit from association with cultural icons, and sports organisations attract viewers who may not have previously followed the game. This model benefits all stakeholders and reflects the growing convergence of entertainment sectors. The idea of a sports fan is also evolving. Today's fans are more likely to engage with sport through fashion, music, and digital platforms than through traditional forms of viewership. Owning a jersey or a pair of limited-edition sneakers is now a way of signalling interest and allegiance, even among those who may not watch matches regularly. This shift is particularly evident among younger audiences, who often consume sports content through short clips, social media posts, and merchandise drops, rather than live broadcasts. As the landscape continues to evolve, such cross-industry partnerships will likely become more common, reinforcing the idea that sport today is not just about competition; it is also about culture, community, and commerce. (The writer is an intern with The Indian Express)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store