Raanjhanaa AI controversy: Farhan Akhtar backs Aanand L Rai as film re-releases

The controversy around the AI-altered ending of the Dhanush-starrer Raanjhanaa has been gaining momentum, as the artist fraternity has called it gross misconduct and exploitation of power by the producers of the film. Actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar has now spoken in support of Rai against the AI-ending of the re-released Raanjhanaa. 

Farhan Akhtar on AI controversy

Farhan, who attended the teaser launch of his film 120 Bahadur in Mumbai on Tuesday, told the media, “I will always stand with the creator of the film. And if the creator of the film was unhappy about his or her work being changed, I will always support the creator. So that`s where my loyalty lies. The rest, the finer print of what happened there, I am not privy to. But that`s all I can say about that”.

Farhan’s business partner Ritesh Sidhwani, who co-owns Excel Entertainment with him, concurred, “I agree with Farhan. I think AI is something we need to embrace and use in the most right way and effective way. And I have said this even before. There were times when, I am talking of earlier times, when we used to do research based on going to a library, reading a book, opening that. Then Google came into our lives and we started doing it in a different way. I think you need to use AI smartly”.

“And don`t get lazy with it. But I absolutely agree with the fact that you can`t do it without the consent of something. I haven`t seen this but I have heard about it and read about it. And I don`t think it`s cool that if the filmmaker as well as the actors and the people involved have not given the consent, it shouldn`t be done. So I think AI is here but you have to use it very smartly. And use it to your advantage”, he added.

What Dhanush said about AI-altered ending of Raanjhanaa

The Tamil superstar Dhanush said that the AI version has deeply disturbed him. "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. It threatens the integrity of storytelling and the legacy of cinema. I sincerely hope that stricter regulations are put in place to prevent such practices in the future."