‘The re-release of Raanjhanaa with AI-altered climax has disturbed me, this is not the film I…’ – Firstpost

Filmmaker Aanand L Rai has finally spoken out about the controversial AI-altered version of his 2013 Raanjhanaa that has been circulating without his consent, calling the entire experience “devastating” and “deeply upsetting.” In a powerful statement released today, the filmmaker minced no words in expressing his outrage over what he describes as a “reckless takeover” of his creative work, while also acknowledging the overwhelming support he has received from the film industry and audiences.

And now, the leading man of that film Dhanush has also taken a firm stand against the blatant use of AI. The actor tweeted- “The re-release of Raanjhanaa with an Al-altered climax has completely disturbed me. This alternate ending has stripped the film of its very soul, and the concerned parties went ahead with it despite my clear objection.”

He added, “This is not the film I committed to 12 years ago. The use of Al to alter films or content is a deeply concerning precedent for both art and artists.”

For the love of cinema 🙏 pic.twitter.com/VfwxMAdfoM

— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) August 3, 2025

The director took to his social media to share a picture of his Raanjhanaa stars Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor from the film sets, and revealed the emotional toll that the past three weeks have taken on him and his team.

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Deeply disappointed at the turn that this incident has taken, Aanand Rai said, “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.”

He concluded by speaking for his entire team – the writer, actors, composer, lyricist, technicians, and crew who made Raanjhanaa, emphasizing that “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.”