Award-winning actor Dhanush has voiced strong disapproval over the AI-generated re-release of his 2013 cult film Raanjhanaa, calling the move “deeply disturbing” and a violation of the film’s original essence.

The Tamil-dubbed version of the movie, Ambikapathy, which has been re-released in theatres across Tamil Nadu with an AI-generated alternate ending on August 1, has sparked outrage from both fans and the film’s original creative team.

Taking to social media on Sunday, Dhanush issued a powerful statement condemning the reimagined climax, in which his character, Kundan, does not die, unlike in the original film’s tragic and poignant finale.

“The re-release of Raanjhanaa with an AI-altered climax has completely disturbed me,” Dhanush wrote.

“This alternate ending has stripped the film of its very soul, and the concerned parties went ahead with it despite my clear objection,” he added.

The actor, whose intense performance in Raanjhanaa marked his Bollywood debut and earned him widespread acclaim, emphasized that the version now screening under the name Ambikapathy no longer reflects the film he committed to more than a decade ago.

“This is not the film I committed to 12 years ago,” he said.

“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 shared his concern.

Dhanush’s reaction comes just days after the re-release was promoted as a “creative reimagining” by Eros Media World, the film’s original producer.

The move has drawn intense criticism not only from fans but also from Raanjhanaa director Aanand L. Rai, who publicly distanced himself from the project and described the AI-modified version as a “reckless and dystopian experiment.”

Both Dhanush and Rai were reportedly not informed or consulted about the alternate cut, which uses generative AI tools to reshape the narrative arc and deliver what is being marketed as a “new, happier climax.