What is the story about?
The latest social media trend has politicians going back in time, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi among the political
figures appearing in retro 1980s-inspired photographs shared online. The BJP’s official Instagram account joined the nostalgia wave by posting a photograph of PM Modi with the caption, “PM Modi ft. 1980s era!” Unlike several other posts doing the rounds, the image shared by the BJP appears to be an actual photograph rather than an AI-generated recreation.
The Congress Sevadal also jumped on the trend, sharing AI-generated images of Rahul Gandhi styled in an unmistakably retro look. Gandhi is seen wearing a brown jacket, white shirt and beige trousers, with the photograph designed to resemble an old-school image from the decade.
Piyush Goyal Shares His 80s Avatar
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was among the other politicians to embrace the viral trend.
Sharing an AI-generated photograph on social media, Goyal wrote, “Vibing to the 80s trend.”
The image shows Goyal in a grey suit, white shirt and aviator sunglasses, with sepia tones, film grain and a faded finish giving it the appearance of an old studio portrait. The retro styling also prompted social media users to compare his look to that of a Bollywood hero from the 1980s.
Kiren Rijiju Gets Into The Retro Mood
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also shared his version of the trend on X.
“Why is everyone going back to the 80s vibes? I’m also forced to 80s nostalgia!” Rijiju wrote.
His AI-generated photograph takes a Bollywood-inspired approach, showing him wearing sunglasses, a blazer and an open shirt while posing beside a car.
Himanta Biswa Sarma Also Joins In
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was another political figure to embrace the nostalgia-driven trend.
Sharing his own retro-inspired AI image, Sarma wrote, “Getting to any trend which has nostalgia attached to it, Back to the 80s eh!”
With politicians from both the BJP and Congress ecosystem participating, the trend has quickly moved beyond influencers and celebrities, becoming another way for public figures to engage with a viral social media moment.
What Is The 80s AI Photo Trend?
The trend involves using AI image generators to transform present-day photographs into images that appear to have been taken in the 1980s.
Users can ask AI tools to recreate the clothing, hairstyles, lighting, backgrounds and photographic texture associated with the decade while retaining the person’s facial features.
The resulting images often feature vintage outfits, retro hairstyles, warm lighting, muted tones and analogue-style film grain. While some users are recreating old family photographs, others are opting for Bollywood-style portraits and vintage studio shoots.
This structure is much more viral-news appropriate: biggest names → other politicians → trend explainer, rather than starting with the generic “new social media trend” introduction.
