Raanjhanaa was one of the most loved films of 2013, and it gained cult status over the years. It is truly one of the iconic love stories of Bollywood. Starring Sonam Kapoor, Dhanush, and Abhay Deol as leads, the film stood out for the bold ending that director Aanand L Rai chose at that time.

But he seems to be quite upset with the recent AI-altered version re-release of the movie, which the production house Eros International Media opted for without the director’s knowledge.

Eros International, Viral Bhayani

Filmmaker Aanand L Rai has voiced his deep disappointment over an AI-altered re-release of his 2013 romantic drama Raanjhanaa. He took to his Instagram account and issued a heartfelt statement, condemning the AI-edited version as a violation of his creative integrity.

Sharing a picture of Sonam and Dhanush from the sets of the film, he wrote, “The past three weeks have been surreal, and deeply upsetting. To watch Raanjhanaa, a film born out of care, conflict, collaboration, and creative risk, be altered, repackaged, and re-released without my knowledge or consent has been nothing short of devastating. What makes it worse is the complete ease and casualness with which it’s been done.”

Credits: Instagram/aanandlrai

Despite the shock, the filmmaker acknowledged the outpouring of support from the industry and the audience: “And yet, in the middle of all this, the support and solidarity from the industry, our audiences, and the larger creative community has reminded me of what Raanjhanaa stood for in the first place, connection, courage, and truth. I’m deeply grateful for that.”

Making his stance clear, the Atrangi Re director stated, “Let me say this as clearly as I can: I do not support or endorse the AI-altered version of Raanjhanaa. It is unauthorised. I had no role in it. Neither did the team that made the film. And whatever it claims to be, it is not the film we intended, or made.”

Eros International

He continued, “This was never just a film to us. It was shaped by human hands, human flaws, and human feeling. What’s now being circulated is not a tribute. It is a reckless takeover that strips the work of its intent, its context, and its soul. 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.”

Rai concluded and said, “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.”

Social and lead image Credits: Eros International, Instagram/aanandlrai