Dhanush Slams AI-Altered Climax in Raanjhanaa Re-Release: “It Stripped the Film of Its Soul”
The re-release of the 2013 romantic drama Raanjhanaa, starring Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor, has sparked major controversy—this time for a climactic twist created using artificial intelligence.
What was meant to be a nostalgic return for fans has instead drawn sharp criticism from the film’s lead actor. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday evening, Dhanush voiced his dismay in an emotional note captioned, “For the love of cinema.”
“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,” he wrote.
Dhanush also alleged that the altered version was released despite his clear objections, stating, “This is not the film I committed to 12 years ago.”
In the re-released version, Dhanush’s character does not die, offering a so-called “happy ending”—a move that many fans and critics believe undermines the emotional impact of the original. The actor went on to express deeper concerns about AI being used to modify cinematic content without the consent of creators and actors.
“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,” Dhanush added.
Earlier, director Aanand L. Rai had also expressed his dissatisfaction with the unauthorized changes.
Originally released in 2013, Raanjhanaa was a modest box office success, with its soulful music composed by A.R. Rahman and its powerful, tragic ending contributing to the film’s lasting emotional impact.
As debates around AI in filmmaking grow louder, this incident could very well become a turning point in how cinema handles the intersection of technology, ethics, and creative control.
