Aanand L Rai Calls AI Edit of Raanjhanaa “Nothing Short of Devastating”

Sharing a post on Instagram, Aanand L Rai posted a BTS image of Dhanush and Sonam, the lead actors of Raanjhanaa, while also reflecting on the emotional challenges he and his team have encountered during the past three weeks. He added a caption which said, “The past three weeks have been surreal, and deeply upsetting. To watch Raanjhanaa, a film born out of care, conflict, collaboration, and creative risk, be altered, repackaged, and re-released without my knowledge or consent has been nothing short of devastating. What makes it worse is the complete ease and casualness with which it’s been done. And yet, in the middle of all this, the support and solidarity from the industry, our audiences, and the larger creative community has reminded me of what Raanjhanaa stood for in the first place – connection, courage, and truth. I’m deeply grateful for that. Let me say this as clearly as I can: I do not support or endorse the AI-altered version of Raanjhanaa. It is unauthorised. I had no role in it. Neither did the team that made the film. And whatever it claims to be, it is not the film we intended, or made. This was never just a film to us. It was shaped by human hands, human flaws, and human feeling. What’s now being circulated is not a tribute. It is a reckless takeover that strips the work of its intent, its context, and its soul. The idea that our work can be taken and modified by a machine, then dressed up as innovation, is deeply disrespectful.

To cloak a film’s emotional legacy in a synthetic cape without consent, is not a creative act. It’s an abject betrayal of everything we built. I’m speaking for everyone who helped bring this film to life. The writer, actors, composer, lyricist, editor, technicians, and larger crew. None of us were consulted. None of us were heard. If Raanjhanaa meant something to you, as it did to us, please know that this AI-altered version does not reflect who we were. Nor does it carry the spirit of the film we made.”

Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor’s Raanjhanaa is known for its tragic, emotionally heavy ending. However, the film’s production company, Eros International, recently used AI to modify the climax into a happier version, a move that hasn’t gone down well with director Aanand L Rai or several others from the film industry. Expressing his disapproval, Rai revealed that the change was made without his consent. In fact, he had earlier requested that his name be removed from the film’s credits altogether. The 2013 cult classic also featured standout performances by Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Abhay Deol, and Swara Bhasker.

Also Read: Inside pictures from Aanand L Rai’s birthday bash