“This Isn’t Homage, It’s Erasure”: Director Slams AI-Generated ‘Happy’ Ending In Raanjhanaa Re-Release
Twelve years after Raanjhanaa captivated audiences with its painful, poetic portrayal of unrequited love, the film is back in theatres. The 2013 Hindi romantic drama has been re-released in Tamil Nadu under its dubbed title Ambikapathy, this time featuring an AI-generated alternate ending in which the lead character does not die.
This re-release, touted as a “creative reimagining” by producer Eros Media World, has deeply upset the film’s director, Aanand L. Rai, who was reportedly neither consulted nor informed about the altered version before the public announcement. Rai has publicly distanced himself from the project, calling it a “reckless and dystopian experiment”.
“I’m heartbroken that this is the future we’re heading toward, where intent and authorship are disposable,” Rai said in a statement to PTI. “All I can do is dissociate myself from such an act. Raanjhanaa didn’t need a new climax; it had heart and honesty. It became a cult film because people connected with its flaws, with its imperfections,” he told PTI.
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“To see its ending altered without a word of discussion is a gross violation—not just of the film, but of the trust of fans who’ve carried it in their hearts for 12 years,” he added.
The original Raanjhanaa, written by Himanshu Sharma and featuring music by A.R. Rahman, starred Dhanush as Kundan, a Hindu boy from Varanasi who harbours a lifelong, obsessive love for Zoya (played by Sonam Kapoor), a Muslim girl.
After years of rejection, political betrayal, and personal sacrifice, Kundan is fatally shot at a rally, a martyr of both love and politics. In his final moments, he dreams of being reborn in Varanasi and falling in love with Zoya all over again.
That emotionally shattering ending, which critics hailed as “brutally honest” and Shakespearean in scope, has now been replaced in the Tamil version, powered by generative AI tools.
While exact plot changes remain undisclosed, promotional material promises a “new, happier climax” and urges viewers to experience Ambikapathy as never before.”
The decision to create an alternate, AI-assisted version was announced earlier this month by Upswing Entertainment, which is handling regional distribution and marketing. Ambikapathy is scheduled to hit Tamil Nadu theatres from August 1.
In a written response to media queries, Eros Media World, the film’s original producer and copyright holder, defended the alteration. “This is a creative reimagining, not a replacement,” said Pradeep Dwivedi, Group CEO of Eros Media.
It is consistent with global industry practices, anniversary editions, alternate cuts, and modernised remasters. The AI-enhanced version is positioned clearly as an alternate,” he added.
He also rejected Rai’s accusations outright. “We categorically reject Mr. Rai’s allegations, which are not only factually incorrect but also legally unfounded,” he said in the statement.
Eros further argued that under Indian copyright law, the producer of a cinematographic work is its legal author, with the moral rights vesting with them, not the director. Therefore, they maintain, they are fully within their rights to repackage and re-release the film.
The move has sparked an industry-wide conversation around AI ethics, creative authorship, and the future of filmmaking. Rai warned that such acts open a “dangerous door” for Indian cinema, where commercial interests may override artistic vision.
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“Changing the ending of a film like this, without the involvement of the people who made it, sets a terrifying precedent,” Rai told PTI. “What’s next? AI rewriting dialogues? AI remixing performances? This is not homage. This is erasure,” he added.
Rai’s concerns are shared by many filmmakers who fear that AI-generated storytelling, if unchecked, may turn into a tool for retrofitting narratives to suit contemporary tastes, at the cost of original intention, nuance, and artistic identity.
Released in 2013, Raanjhanaa was a box-office hit, earning ₹105 crore globally on a budget of ₹36 crore. Dhanush’s magnetic performance, the film’s rooted portrayal of Banaras, and A.R. Rahman’s rich score made it an instant favourite, especially among younger audiences. Its blend of politics, religion, class, and obsessive love set it apart from conventional Bollywood romances.
The film was later dubbed and released as Ambikapathy in Tamil. Its success helped launch Dhanush as a pan-Indian actor.
The AI-modified re-release arrives as Rai prepares for a standalone sequel, Tere Ishq Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon, which is slated for a global theatrical release on November 28, 2025. Unlike Raanjhanaa, this new film is an original narrative but will carry forward similar emotional and thematic threads.
