Raanjhanaa Re-Release: Director Slams AI-Changed Ending

The re-release of the 2013 romantic drama Raanjhanaa in Tamil Nadu, featuring an AI-generated “happy” ending, has ignited a public clash between director Aanand L Rai and producer Eros International Media Limited. The film, originally titled Ambikapathy in its 2013 Tamil dubbed version, stars Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor and is set to return to theaters on August 1 with a new climax crafted using artificial intelligence, a move that Rai has strongly criticized.

Directed by Rai and written by Himanshu Sharma, Raanjhanaa tells the story of Kundan, a Hindu boy (Dhanush), who falls in love with Zoya, a Muslim girl (Sonam Kapoor), in Varanasi and Delhi. The original film ends tragically with Kundan being shot at a rally and later dying in a hospital. The AI-altered Tamil version, however, reimagines this ending to give Kundan a happier fate, prompting Rai to denounce the change as a “reckless and dystopian experiment.” He expressed dismay to PTI, stating that he was not consulted and learned of the alteration through social media. Rai, who also co-produced the film under Colour Yellow Productions, described the move as a violation of the film’s integrity and the trust of its fans, who have cherished it for 12 years. He has since requested that his name be removed from the credits of the AI-modified version.

Eros International, the film’s sole copyright holder, defended its decision, labeling the re-release a “creative reimagining” rather than a replacement of the original. In a statement to PTI, Eros Group CEO Pradeep Dwivedi emphasized that the company holds full legal and ethical rights to adapt the film. He noted that the re-release aligns with global industry practices, such as anniversary editions and modernized remasters, and aims to introduce the classic to new audiences in regional markets. Eros has partnered with Tamil Nadu-based distributor Upswing Entertainment for the re-release, which announced the AI-powered ending earlier this month. The company rejected Rai’s allegations as “factually incorrect and legally unfounded,” asserting that the new version is clearly distinguished as an alternate cut.

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Rai, currently working on a follow-up film, Tere Ishq Mein, with Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, set for release on November 28, warned that Eros’s actions raise ethical concerns about altering creative works without the consent of directors or actors. He argued that such changes undermine the moral rights of creators and could set a troubling precedent for the industry.