The 2013 film Raanjhanaa, starring Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor in prominent roles, has recently been re-released in theaters with a modified AI-generated
ending. The film’s revised ‘happy’ conclusion, which was also re-released in Tamil as Ambikapathy, faced backlash from both Aanand and Dhanush, who expressed their discontent regarding the alteration of their original artistic vision. In light of the controversy surrounding the film’s AI-modified ending, actor-director Farhan Akhtar has voiced his support for Anand L. Rai, the director of Raanjhanaa. During the teaser launch of his forthcoming film 120 Bahadur on Tuesday, Farhan discussed his allegiance to the film’s original creator.
Farhan Akhtar backs Raanjhanaa director Aanand L Rai amid AI ending debate
At the teaser launch event, when asked about the ongoing controversy, the Rock On star remarked, “I will always stand by the film’s creator. If the creator is dissatisfied with alterations made to their work, I will support them. That’s where my loyalty lies. I’m not fully informed about the specifics, but that’s all I can convey.”
Ritesh Sidhwani agrees with Farhan Akhtar's viewpoint
Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan’s collaborator at Excel Entertainment, shared his agreement and offered his perspective on the role of AI in filmmaking. “I concur with Farhan. AI is a resource we should adopt, but it must be utilized judiciously and responsibly. In the past, research meant visiting a library; now, with Google and AI, the methodology has evolved. One must leverage AI intelligently and avoid complacency.”
He added, “Consent is essential. I haven’t viewed the AI-modified Raanjhanaa, but from what I’ve gathered, if the filmmaker, actors, and others involved have not provided their consent, it should not be executed. AI is here to stay, but it should be employed to your benefit—thoughtfully and respectfully.”
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Overview of Raanjhanaa AI ending controversy
For those who may not know, in the original Raanjhanaa, Dhanush’s character Kundan meets his end after being shot, with Zoya (Sonam Kapoor) by his side. However, the new AI version depicts Kundan surviving and awakening in the hospital, with Bindiya (Swara Bhasker) and Murari (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) celebrating.
The AI alteration has ignited a dispute between director Anand L. Rai and the production company Eros. While Eros defended the modifications and asserted their rights over the material, Rai publicly claimed that the decision was made without his consent and cautioned that it could establish a “dangerous precedent.”
Compounding the conflict, Eros also accused Rai of utilizing Raanjhanaa’s intellectual property in his upcoming project Tere Ishk Mein.
