Bollywood actors whose social media accounts were hacked

Bollywood stars are no newbies to the dark side of social media stardom, with some of the biggest stars falling prey to hacking attacks that left fans stunned and questioning online security. From veteran actors to new-generation stars, these hacks have varied from playful jokes to serious data theft. Here's a list of Bollywood stars whose social media accounts were hacked.

Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, whose career extends over more than half a century, is among Bollywood's best-social media followed celebrities. Amitabh Bachchan's Twitter handle was hacked in June 2019 by pro-Pakistan Turkish hacking group Ayyildiz Tim. Hackers replaced his profile picture with that of Pakistan's Prime Minister and tweeted with appreciation for Pakistan. The Twitter account was recovered within an hour quickly. The hackers were not caught, but Mumbai Police opened a cyber investigation, and Bachchan's account was locked shortly thereafter.

Shahid Kapoor, with his varied roles in blockbuster movies such as 'Kabir Singh' and 'Padmaavat,' was hacked into on Twitter and Instagram in 2018. The Turkish hackers attacked him after the release of 'Padmaavat,' posting negative remarks about the portrayal of Alauddin Khilji, who was Turkish. Shahid immediately informed fans upon gaining access again, and the accounts were reinstated. The hackers were not identified, and there were no reports of arrests, but the event brought to the fore the vulnerabilities of celebrities online.

Rakul Preet Singh, who is a well-known Bollywood as well as South Indian actress, was subjected to a hacking threat when her Instagram account was hacked in 2018. She warned her followers on Twitter not to reply to the fake messages. The hack did not cause any serious damage, and her account was recovered soon without much data loss. The hacker's identity was never disclosed, nor were any arrests made, but Rakul's swift action prevented any significant fallout.

Hrithik Roshan, who is known for his performances in 'Krrish' and 'War,' was hacked on Facebook in 2016. The hacker went bold and changed Hrithik's profile picture to their own and even had a live session from his own account. Hrithik soon took back control and told fans that the issue was taken care of. There was no one identified as the hacker, nor was an arrest reported, but the incident was a wake-up call for celebrity cybersecurity.

Veteran actor Anupam Kher, with a busy filmography and international presence, had his Twitter account hacked by the Turkish cyber gang Ayyildiz Tim, the same gang responsible for Bachchan's hack. The hackers left a message stating that Kher's information and DMs had been taken. Kher reported the incident, and his account was quickly restored. The culprits were not apprehended, but the incident highlighted the vulnerabilities of high-profile social media accounts.

Bollywood's most powerful filmmaker and producer, Karan Johar, was a victim of a Twitter hack in which the hacker sent out strange tweets to other celebrities. Johar realized the hacking and promptly reported it to the cyber-crime branch. He later alerted his followers and explained the incident on Twitter. The hacker was not caught, but Johar's prompt action ensured the account was recovered without any further trouble.