Aanand L Rai’s 2013 film Raanjhanaa, starring Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor, in lead roles, have achieved a cult status. 12 years later, Eros International is re-releasing the romantic drama on August 1, with a twist—"a new ending powered by Artificial Intelligence". The original ending of the film shows Dhanush’s character Kundan dying in a hospital after being shot at a public rally. Rai, who not only directed the film but also co-produced it, has expressed his displeasure. Here's why.
Aanand L Rai slams re-release of Raanjhanaa with AI-powered ending
In an interview with SCREEN, Rai claimed that he was neither informed nor consulted by the studio, Eros International, before making changes to the original film.
The filmmaker said that he got to know about it through social media announcement a couple of days back, and people have been messaging him asking him why the ending of Raanjhanaa is being changed. "I just can’t wrap my head around this," Rai said.
Rai also reached out to the studio to object it, but they didn’t respond. Now, he plans to write to them, asking them to remove his name from the "AI-altered film".
Slamming Eros International, Rai said, "I don’t get it, how can they do this? It’s an ending people have loved! If not the filmmaker, at least listen to the audience."
The new AI-created climax of Raanjhanaa is said to have a ‘happy’ ending, where Kundan survives. On this, Rai said, "What is a happy ending? It’s a tragedy, that’s an emotion. How can you meddle with emotions? The voice of the film lies in that ending."
The Atrangi Re director further said that he has learnt his lesson, and will be cautious now. "I’ve to be very careful while signing the dotted line. I’m dealing with this, but other filmmakers should learn from this," he said.
Rai also added that a studio "doesn’t care about the story" and "just to earn a few crores, they’re tampering with a writer, director, and actor’s creation."
Reportedly, Eros International has sold the new AI-edited version of Raanjhanaa to Upswing Entertainment, a Tamil Nadu-based distributor. Rai said that if one commits a crime in Rome, it will be still a crime. "Even if you’re releasing it in Tamil Nadu, where we don’t have that much of a presence, but my actor (referring to Dhanush) does. And I’m responsible for what happens to his image there with my film," he said.
Rai also said, "No actors would want to work with them now. Maybe they don’t want to work with actors anymore. They plan to make films with AI only."
The filmmaker is currently gearing up for the release of Tere Ishk Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon in lead roles. It will release on November 28.
