Indian film company to rerelease romantic drama with AI ‘happy ending’
The GuardianSunday, July 27, 2025 at 5:00:13 AM
NegativeWorld Affairs
An Indian film company is stirring controversy by rereleasing the 2013 romantic drama Raanjhanaa with an AI-generated "happy ending"—without the director’s knowledge or consent. The original film, which depicted a tragic love story between a Hindu man and a Muslim woman, left audiences heartbroken, and now its creator says he’s devastated by the unauthorized alteration. This could be the first known case of a studio using AI to fundamentally reshape a finished film against its director’s wishes.
Editor’s Note: This isn’t just about tweaking a movie—it’s a flashpoint in the growing debate over who controls art in the age of AI. Studios might see tech as a way to "fix" divisive stories, but filmmakers (and fans) could push back hard if it means overriding creative intent. It also raises messy questions: Can a studio ethically alter a director’s work years later? And what happens when AI starts rewriting cultural narratives?
— Curated by the World Pulse Now AI Editorial System
