The controversy over the re-release of Raanjhanaa with an AI-altered climax has grown. Actor Dhanush has come forth to criticize the use of AI, claiming that the alternate ending has robbed the movie of its essence, following director Aanand L. Rai.
Dhanush raises his voice
Dhanush released a statement on his social media accounts on Sunday. The actor disclosed that he was against the use of artificial intelligence and a different conclusion, but that “the concerned parties” nevertheless proceeded
Titled “For the love of cinema”, Dhanush wrote in his note, “The re-release of ‘Raanjhanaa’ with an AI-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”. This is not the film I committed to 12 years ago.
“The use of AI 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,” he added.
For the love of cinema 🙏 pic.twitter.com/VfwxMAdfoM
— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) August 3, 2025
Dhanush’s character Kundan does not die as depicted in the 2013 movie in the AI-altered finale of Raanjhanaa. Then, Bindiya (Swara Bhasker) and Murari (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) are seen crying joyfully as Kundan opens his eyes and sits up on the bed. Kundan is shot and sent to the intensive care unit in the original movie. Later, Sonam Kapoor’s character Zoya rushes to the hospital to be with him as he passes away.
The actor’s remarks come after an increasingly heated verbal altercation between Eros and director Aanand L. Rai. In a statement released on July 29, the company defended the usage of AI in the re-release. It charged Aanand with using Raanjhanaa’s intellectual property without permission for his next movie, Tere Ishk Mein.
In multiple interviews after the announcement of Raanjhanaa’s AI-altered conclusion, Aanand has said that it creates a risky precedent for altering directors’ visions. Additionally, he has noted that Eros did not deny him permission before the “happy” ending was changed.
Regarding Raanjhanaa
Aanand L. Rai is the director and Himanshu Sharma is the writer of the love drama Raanjhanaa (2013). Abhay Deol also appears in the movie. Raanjhanaa was released on June 21, 2013, and Ambikapathy, which was dubbed into Tamil, followed a week later. On November 28 of this year, Tere Ishk Mein, a stand-alone sequel, will be released.
