A familiar face, a crowded mall, and a few minutes of confusion were enough to create one of the internet’s latest viral moments. A social media creator known for looking like Virat Kohli walked into a mall as part of a planned prank, and the response was almost instant. Shoppers gathered around him, phones came out, selfies began, and many believed they were seeing the cricket star in person.The video has since become a topic of discussion online. While some people called it an entertaining prank, others felt it crossed a line after seeing the size of the crowd and the reaction it received.
Kartik Sharma recreates Virat Kohli’s look
The person behind the prank is Kartik Sharma, a social media creator known for his striking resemblance to Virat Kohli.To make the act convincing, Sharma recreated several of Kohli’s signature features. He matched the cricketer’s hairstyle, copied his tattoos, and wore a Royal Challengers Bangalore jersey.The video, shared on Instagram on July 6, shows Sharma making a grand entry into a shopping mall in a BMW, accompanied by four bodyguards.Within moments, people began mistaking him for Virat Kohli, and a crowd quickly started forming around him.
Shoppers rush for selfies as crowd grows
The clip shows people trying to take selfies with Sharma while many others followed him through the mall.The video also shows mall security walking alongside him to handle the crowd. Sharma is heard saying that the security guards left their posts to run after him.As the prank continued, more people joined in. The video also shows visitors standing on the balconies across different floors of the mall to catch a glimpse of the person they believed was Virat Kohli.Sharing the clip on Instagram, Sharma captioned it, “Prank in the largest mall of India.”
Internet reacts with mixed views
The prank has divided opinion on social media.Many viewers said they enjoyed watching the reactions, while others felt Sharma had misled fans who genuinely believed they had met Virat Kohli.Several users also raised concerns about the crowd that gathered inside the mall, saying the situation could have become unsafe.“This isn’t just a prank; it’s a massive safety hazard. Forcing mall security away from their actual jobs puts everyone in danger if a real emergency happens. Not cool,” wrote one person in the comments section.“Bhai you played with their emotions,” said another.“Why are you playing with their emotions? Har ek ka sapna hota hai ki Virat ke sath selfie lien,” a viewer asked Sharma.Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available social media content and user comments. The Times of India has not independently verified the authenticity of the video or the claims made by individuals featured in it.Thumb image: Instagram