Ritesh Sidhwani Weighs in on Raanjhanaa AI Controversy: “You Can’t Do It Without Consent”

The debate over the use of AI in cinema continues to intensify following the controversial re-release of the 2013 romantic drama Raanjhanaa, which featured an AI-generated alternate ending. While the original film concluded with Dhanush’s character Kundan dying tragically, the revised version sees him miraculously survive, leaving fans—and the film’s creators—up in arms. Among the growing voices speaking out against the move is acclaimed producer and director Ritesh Sidhwani, who made a strong statement on the issue at the teaser launch of his upcoming film 120 Bahadur.

 

Addressing the controversy, Sidhwani began by acknowledging the value of artificial intelligence when used appropriately. “AI is something we need to embrace and use, in the right way and most effective way,” he said. Drawing a parallel to earlier shifts in how people gather information, he added, “I have said this even before, and I am talking about earlier times, when we used to do research, by going to a library or reading a book, then Google came into our lives, and we started doing it in a different way.”

 

However, Sidhwani emphasized the importance of responsibility and consent in using new tools like AI. “I think you need to use AI smartly and don’t get lazy with it,” he warned. While he admitted he hadn’t seen the altered version of Raanjhanaa himself, he expressed concern over the reported lack of approval from the original creators. “I haven’t seen it, but I have read about it, heard about it, and I don’t think that is cool,” he said.

 

In a clear stand with director Aanand L. Rai and actor Dhanush, both of whom criticized the re-edit, Sidhwani asserted: “If the filmmaker, as well as the actor, and the people involved, has not given their consent, it shouldn’t be done.”

 

Concluding his thoughts, he reiterated his support for using AI as a tool—not a shortcut: “I think, AI is here but you have to use it very smartly, and use it to your advantage.”

 

Sidhwani’s remarks add weight to the growing industry call for ethical standards and clear boundaries in the use of AI. As the film world embraces technology, voices like his serve as a crucial reminder: innovation should never come at the cost of integrity.

 

Facebook Comments