Mumbai: A viral video showing a leopard strolling through Phoenix Marketcity Mall in Mumbai has sparked panic and amusement online — but experts confirm the clip is AI-generated and not real.
The video, which shows a big cat casually wandering through a shopping mall as startled shoppers look on, appears impressively realistic — complete with natural lighting, shadows, and reflections consistent with an indoor mall environment. Many users initially believed the visuals were genuine.
One social media user joked, “Looks like the leopard came for Diwali shopping!” while another quipped, “Mumbai’s new shopper spotted at Phoenix Marketcity.”
Experts confirm the clip is fake
Digital forensics specialists and wildlife experts have clarified that no real leopard was present at Phoenix Marketcity. The mall authorities and Mumbai Police have not reported any wildlife intrusion, confirming that the video is fabricated.
According to experts, this clip belongs to a growing trend of AI-generated animal videos crafted by tech enthusiasts or pranksters for entertainment — though such content can easily trigger unnecessary alarm.
“The realism in these visuals has improved drastically with new AI tools,” a digital media analyst said. “It’s increasingly hard for viewers to distinguish between real and generated footage without forensic verification.”
A recurring deepfake trend
Similar fake clips have surfaced recently from Nashik, Pune, and Delhi, where AI-generated leopard and tiger sightings briefly caused panic before being debunked.
In Nashik, several images of a leopard near residential areas went viral earlier this week, prompting local forest officials to issue a clarification. A subsequent fact-check revealed that the videos were digitally created, not recorded in real locations.
Wildlife conservationists warn that these deepfakes could divert attention from genuine leopard sightings that occasionally occur near urban fringes, especially in Maharashtra’s forest-adjacent areas.
The deeper concern: Deepfake danger
Experts say the “leopard in the mall” clip highlights a larger problem of AI-generated misinformation, especially when visual content appears credible enough to fool even cautious viewers.
“With tools like generative AI, anyone can create ultra-realistic wildlife or disaster footage,” a senior official from the Maharashtra Cyber Cell said. “We advise citizens to verify before sharing such videos and rely on credible news sources.”
Authorities have urged users to report such misleading content to the fact-checking helplines of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) or Maharashtra Cyber Police.
Key takeaway
The viral leopard video from Mumbai’s Phoenix Marketcity is not real, but a computer-generated deepfake created using advanced AI tools. Viewers are urged to verify before sharing, as such clips can spread unnecessary panic and misinformation.