Payal Dhare, popularly known as Payal Gaming, is a prominent Indian gaming content creator and YouTuber with over 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube and millions of followers on Instagram. She specializes in streaming games like BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India), PUBG, GTA V, and others, and is affiliated with the esports organization S8UL. Hailing from a village in Madhya Pradesh, she rose to fame starting in 2019 and has won awards, including being the first Indian female gamer to receive international recognition at the MOBIES in 2024.
In mid-December 2025, an explicit private video began circulating widely on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and Instagram. Users falsely claimed the woman in the clip was Payal Dhare, leading to rapid viral spread and her name trending. Some versions were dubbed a “Dubai MMS leak,” tying into her earlier viral fame from appearing in the stands during the 2025 Champions Trophy cricket matches in Dubai.
Payal Dhare’s Response
Payal broke her silence on December 17, 2025, via an Instagram post, firmly denying any involvement:
- She stated: “The individual depicted in that video is not me, and it has no connection to my life, my choices, or my identity.”
- She described the situation as “deeply hurtful and dehumanizing,” emphasizing the real-life impact on individuals and families.
- Payal urged people to stop sharing or speculating about the content and announced she is pursuing legal action against those spreading it.
Is It Real or a Deepfake?
Multiple reputable sources (including Economic Times, Zee News, India TV, DNA India, and fact-check reports) and her fans have concluded the video is fake:
- It is widely identified as an AI-generated deepfake or a morphed clip of an unrelated person, created to exploit her popularity for views, clicks, or scams (e.g., links leading to malware or phishing sites).
- Fans pointed out inconsistencies like facial mismatches, body differences, and tell-tale AI artifacts.
- No credible evidence links it to Payal, and similar hoaxes have targeted other Indian creators recently.
This incident highlights the growing misuse of AI deepfakes in 2025, particularly against women in public roles, raising concerns about digital privacy, online harassment, and the need for stricter regulations under India’s IT Rules.
Fans rallied in support, urging responsible sharing and warning about the dangers of unverified content. As of December 19, 2025, the controversy continues to trend, but the consensus is clear: it’s a malicious hoax. Avoid sharing such material, as it can lead to legal consequences.