- By Swati Singh
- Sat, 04 Oct 2025 10:22 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Anand L. Rai's romantic thriller movie Raanjhanaa is one of the most-loved movies of the time. The film was re-released in theatres this year, but with an AI-generated climax, which received criticisms from the audience and critics alike. Now, filmmaker Karan Johar has spoken in support of Aanand L. Rai. He said that the producer should have consulted the director before re-releasing the film with an AI-altered ending.
In a conversation with Komal Nahta on his YouTube channel Game Changers, Karan was asked who he thinks should have the right to re-release a film with a changed ending. To this, he said, "This should now be contractual. If the producer owns 100% of the film, then he/she has the right to do whatever they want. But he/she has to have the moral dilemma about it. Today also I own every IP, but if I have to do anything to the film, I call the director of the film. So when it’s not contractual, it has to be moral. Agar aapki morality nahi hai, agar aap ek director ke vision ko badal rahe ho, release kar rahe without his/her consent, then that is not right (If you don’t have morality, if you’re changing a director’s vision and releasing the film without his/her consent, then that is not right)."
Karan further added, "His job is to call Aanand L. Rai jiski vision thi voh, jiski wajah se aap yeh kar rahe ho aaj, it’s your moral responsibility. You should call everybody who made that film special. It’s the right thing to do. Aur kya hi ukhaad liya aapne change karke. Aisa nahi hai ki uss film ka bahut bada business hua. Because it’s inauthentic. AI has to be used for its absolute worth. Jo natural hai voh zyada chalega (You should call Aanand L. Rai — it was his vision and he’s the reason you’re able to do this today. What did you even achieve by changing it? It’s not as if the film made huge business. Because it’s inauthentic. AI should only be used where it truly adds value. What’s natural will always work better)."
The original ending of the 2013 film Raanjhanaa features Kundan (Dhanush) dying after being shot, surrounded by his love Zoya (Sonam Kapoor). However, in the new AI-edited version, Kundan miraculously survives and wakes up in the hospital, where Bindiya (Swara Bhasker) and Murari (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub) are overjoyed. This alteration has sparked a heated debate between director Aanand L. Rai and production house Eros International.
Rai strongly objected to the changes, stating that they were made without his consent and threaten the integrity of storytelling in cinema. Eros defended the AI edit as a "creative reimagining" and claimed that it doesn't replace the original film but rather offers an alternate perspective.