Dhanush & Anand L. Rai condemn AI-altered climax in Raanjhanaa’s re-release

August 4, 2025

Mumbai, August 4: Controversy has started after the climax of the film Raanjhanaa was changed by AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the re-release of the film. After the film’s director Anand L. Rai, now the film’s lead actor Dhanush has also objected to this. The actor has said that despite his clear objection, the producer has re-released the film with a changed climax.

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

— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) August 3, 2025

Expressing his displeasure over this, Dhanush has issued an official statement saying, ‘The re-release of the film Raanjhanaa with an altered climax by AI has completely disturbed me. This alternate ending has taken away the soul of the film and the party concerned has continued with it despite my clear objection. This is not the film to which I have been committed for the last 12 years. Using AI to alter a film or content is worrying for both the artist and the art. This is a threat to the legacy of cinema and the integrity of storytelling. I sincerely hope that strict rules will be made to prevent such practices in the future.’

Along with this statement, Dhanush has written in the caption, ‘For the love of cinema.’

What is the whole matter?

The 2013 blockbuster film Raanjhanaa has been re-released on August 1 with its Tamil title Ambikapathi. However, the climax of this re-released film has been completely changed by AI (Artificial Intelligence). While Kundan (Dhanush) dies in the climax of the original film, the new climax shows the film having a happy ending.

The director had also raised objection

The film’s director Anand L. Rai is furious over the change in the climax. He has not only objected to it but has also reprimanded the production team for making changes without permission. Anand L. Rai has written from his official Instagram account, ‘The last three weeks have been extremely strange and deeply sad for me. Raanjhanaa, a film that was born out of sensitivity, confrontation, collaboration and creative risk, was changed, repackaged and re-released without my knowledge or consent. This experience has been extremely painful for me. And what makes it even worse is the ease and carelessness with which all this has been done.’

 

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A post shared by Aanand L Rai (@aanandlrai)

The director further wrote, ‘Yet, in the midst of all this, the support and solidarity I received from the film industry, audiences and the creative community reminded me what Raanjhanaa was all about – engagement, courage and truth. I am deeply grateful for this. I want to say this with utmost clarity – I do not support or accept this AI-altered version of Raanjhanaa. It is completely unauthorized. I have no role in it. And neither does the team that made this film. This film was not just a project for us. It was made by human hands, sculpted with human flaws and emotions. What is being circulated now is not a tribute, it is an irresponsible usurpation that completely destroys the spirit of our work.’

Anand further wrote, ‘The idea that a machine would take our work, change it, and present it in the name of innovation is extremely insulting. To cover the emotional legacy of a film in an artificial cover without consent is not a creative act, it is a blatant betrayal. I am speaking on behalf of all the people who gave life to this film, the writers, actors, composers, lyricists, editors, technicians and the entire team. None of us were consulted. No one was listened to. If Raanjhanaa made you feel something, like it made us feel, please know that this AI-altered version does not reflect the true soul of that film and is not the Raanjhanaa we made.’

Eros Group gave clarification

On this controversy, Pradeep Dwivedi, Chief Executive of Eros Media Group, which made changes in the film, has said that these changes are part of his company’s long term creative and commercial vision. He said that if changes can be made to improve something, then why not.