Actor Dhanush Slams Raanjhanaa's AI-Altered Climax

Raanjhanaa, starring Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor, has once again found itself in the headlines over the past few days. Actor Dhanush has harshly criticised the re-release of his movie "Ambikapathy," the Tamil-dubbed version of "Raanjhanaa," because the new version features a different climax with the help of artificial intelligence. On August 1, the Tamil version was re-released with a new climax that, according to the producers, was designed to provide a "happy ending to the story." A hit movie from 2013, the romantic drama Raanjhanaa is still very popular today.

In a detailed note posted on his X handle on Sunday, Dhanush expressed his disappointment with the movie's AI-altered climax. He stated that the modified ending has completely disturbed him. The actor also said that the alternate ending had stripped the film of its very soul and that the parties involved had proceeded with it despite his clear objection. Dhanush mentioned that the re-released movie was not the one he had committed to twelve years earlier. On X, Dhanush posted that the use of artificial intelligence to alter films and content sets a deeply concerning pattern for both art and artists. He added that it threatened the integrity of storytelling and the legacy of cinema and called for the establishment of more rigid guidelines to prevent such practices from happening again.

For the love of cinema 🙏 pic.twitter.com/VfwxMAdfoM

— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) August 3, 2025

Earlier, director Aanand L. Rai had also spoken out against the production house for their move. In a long message shared on Instagram, the director labelled the change a "betrayal" and described the new developments as "deeply upsetting." According to Aanand L Rai, neither he nor any of the film's core creative team were consulted before the AI-modified version was released.

Following this criticism, Raanjhanaa producer Eros International reportedly said that the film's re-release is part of the company's broader strategy to refresh and reintroduce classic cinematic works to newer audiences in regional markets. The production house also described it as a "creative reimagining." In a post on LinkedIn this week, Pradeep Dwivedi, CEO of Eros Group, reportedly characterised the re-release as a "respectful reinterpretation," and suggesting it aligns with global cinema practices. The controversy comes amid an ongoing corporate dispute between Eros and Colour Yellow Productions, the studio co-founded by Rai. The alternate ending has become a major talking point on social media, sparking a divided response. While some fans praised the new conclusion, others expressed worry that such technology could be used to alter a film's history and undermine the original intent of its creators.