Fact Check: Ishan Kishan, Kavya Maran and Smriti Mandhana spotted at Charminar, in swimming pool? No, images are AI-generated

Currently, several images featuring cricketer Ishan Kishan, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) head Kavya Maran and cricketer Smriti Mandhana have gone viral. Here’s a NewsMeter analysis of each image to determine if they are real or created using Artificial Intelligence.

Claim 1

Kavya Maran and Ishan Kishan spotted at Charminar?

A collage of two images featuring Kavya Maran and Ishan Kishan posing in front of the Charminar in Hyderabad has gone viral. The Facebook post with the images garnered 21,000 likes at the time of writing this article.

The images were shared with the caption, “Ishan Kishan & Kaviya Maran visiting Charminar in Hyderabad.” (Archive)

Similar claims are found here. (Archive)

Fact Check

We used various keywords to find reports of Ishan Kishan and Kavya Maran visiting Charminar. However, we did not find any credible reports or social media posts.

The Charminar in the images seemed uneven and with extra levels which hinted that the images were AI-generated. We ran the images through AI detection to determine authenticity. Sight Engine determined that the image is 99 per cent likely to be AI-generated and Hive Moderation rated it 99.8 per cent likely to contain AI-generated content.

Therefore, we can say that the viral collage is AI-generated.

Claim 2

Ishan Kishan and Kavya Maran’s wedding images go viral?

Two images showing Ishan Kishan and Kavya Maran in wedding attire were shared on Facebook with the caption, “Ishan Kishan married Kavya Maran” (Archive)

Fact Check

We used various keywords and found no reports regarding Kavya Maran and Ishan Kishan’s marriage.

We ran the image through Sight Engine and found that the image is 99 per cent likely to be AI-generated and Hive Moderation determined that the image is 97.8 per cent likely to contain AI-generated content.

Therefore, like the previous images, we conclude that these are also AI-generated content.

Claim 3

Smriti Mandhana and Ishan Kishan’s selfies go viral?

A collage of two images showing Smriti Mandhana and Ishan Kishan dressed in blue jerseys posing with each other was shared on Facebook, garnering more than 10,000 likes. The caption read, “Smriti Mandhana With His Best Friend’s Ishan Kishan. (sic)” (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the images were made using AI.

We used a reverse image search and did not find any results that matched these two images. We searched through the official social media accounts of both cricketers and did not find any related news or images posted by either Ishan or Smriti.

Upon closer inspection, we found signs of manipulation in the images such as smooth and unrealistic skin texture, edges of hair and clothing that lack natural irregularities usually present in real images.

We used Sight Engine and found that the images are 99 per cent likely to have been manipulated using AI. Hive Moderation determined that the images are 93.8 per cent likely to contain AI-generated content.

Claim 4

Ishan Kishan and Smriti Mandhana’s wedding images go viral?

A collage of two images showing Ishan and Smriti in wedding attire was shared on Facebook. (Archive)

Fact Check

We used a reverse image search and found that there were no credible matches for both images in the collage.

Using keyword searches we found there are no credible reports about Ishan Kishan’s marriage. We found a Times of India report on Smriti Mandhana’s relationship status. According to the report, Smriti Mandhana and Palash Munchhal are in a relationship. (Archive)

The report stated, “Palash Munchhal works in Bollywood as a filmmaker, writer, music composer, singer, and songwriter. The couple have been dating for many years now, and they recently celebrated their fifth anniversary. Palash posted a picture with Smriti on Instagram with the caption, “#5”

We used the True Media tool to check whether the viral images were manipulated. The result indicated that there is some evidence that the image could be manipulated.

We also used Sight Moderation and Hive Moderation to check the extent of manipulation. Both tools determined that the viral images are over 98 per cent likely to contain AI-generated content.

Claim 5

Viral images show Ishan and Smriti in a swimming pool?

Post 1: An image showing Ishan and Smriti in a swimming pool is going viral with the caption, “Ishan kishan with smriti mandhana romantic moment in swimming pools.” (Archive)

A similar image can be found here. (Archive)

Fact Check

Both images have inconsistent clothing details along with irregularities in facial features. We have used TrueMedia deep fake detector and the results indicated that the images could have been generated using AI.

Hive Moderation confirmed that the images are AI-generated as the results stated that the image is 99.5 per cent likely to contain AI-generated content.

Post 2: Another image of Ishan and Smriti in a swimming pool uploaded on Facebook got more than 3,300 likes. (Archive)

Fact Check

A reverse image search of the viral images did not result in any possible matches.

The images had telltale signs of AI involvement such as unusual background details and smooth and unrealistic skin texture. Using TrueMedia, we found that the viral images contain substantial evidence of manipulation.

Hive Moderation results confirmed that the images are AI-generated. According to the tool, the viral images are 99.7 per cent likely to contain AI-generated content.

Therefore, NewsMeter found that the viral images featuring Ishan Kishan, Kavya Maran and Smriti Mandhana are AI-generated and the claims are false.