At the trailer launch of his upcoming war-period drama 120 Bahadur, actor-producer Farhan Akhtar addressed the ongoing debate around the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in filmmaking, following the controversy surrounding the re-release of Raanjhanaa.
When asked about the issue, Farhan voiced his support for filmmaker Aanand L Rai, stating: “Well, I’ll always stand with the creator of the film. And if the creator of the film is unhappy about his or her work being changed, I’ll always support the creator. That’s where my loyalties lie. As for what exactly happened there, I’m not privy to that. But that’s all I can say.”
Also present at the event was long-time collaborator of Farhan and co-producer of 120 Bahadur, Ritesh Sidhwani, who weighed in on the larger conversation around AI in the industry: “AI is something that we have to embrace and use in the most effective and appropriate way. I’ve said this before, there were times, and I’m talking about earlier times, when we used to do research by going into a library and reading books. Then Google came into our lives and we started doing things differently. I think we need to use AI smartly, don’t get lazy with it. And of course, you can’t use it without the consent of the filmmaker. I haven’t seen it, but I’ve read about it and heard about it. And I don’t think it’s cool if the filmmaker, actors, and people involved haven’t given their consent. Then it shouldn’t be done. AI is here, and you have to use it wisely and to your advantage.”
For context, as first reported by SCREEN, the producers of Raanjhanaa altered the film’s original ending using AI to make it more commercially appealing. Aanand L Rai and lead actor Dhanush have publicly opposed the modified version.
Despite their objections, the film was re-released with the altered ending. Just a few days ago, Dhanush posted a statement on social media expressing his disappointment and made it clear that he does not support the AI-altered version.
In a statement, the film’s producer Eros said, “While we acknowledge and respect differing views on the use of AI in film, our aim has been to explore how technology can complement storytelling and offer fresh dimensions for audiences — never to undermine the original essence of a film. The original Raanjhanaa & Ambikapathy remains much loved and widely available, and the IP is fully preserved.”
