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Are Aanand L Rai and Dhanush considering legal action against AI-altered 'Raanjhanaa'?

Are Aanand L Rai and Dhanush considering legal action against AI-altered 'Raanjhanaa'?

Time of India4 hours ago
Amidst the frenzy and backlash surrounding the AI-altered version of the film 'Raanjhanaa', filmmaker
Aanand L Rai
has hinted at possibly taking the legal route to protect his creative interest.
The director came down heavily against the 'unauthorised' altered re-release of his film and issued a strong statement condemning the new, 'happy' ending. The modified version was released on August 1 under its Tamil title 'Ambikapathy' by Eros International, allegedly, without the consent of the original creative team, including lead actor
Dhanush
.
Taking The Legal Route
According to Bollywood Bubble, Rai confirmed that both he and Dhanush are seriously considering legal action over what they describe as a blatant violation of creative integrity.
"This sets a very dangerous precedent," Rai said in an official statement. "I am very worried about my other films. So is Dhanush. We are actively looking at judicial remedies to restore and preserve our creative content."
Dhanush and Anand L Rai's Statements
Rai had previously taken to Instagram to express his shock saying, "The past three weeks have been surreal and deeply upsetting… Raanjhanaa was altered, repackaged, and re-released without my knowledge or consent.
It's devastating."
Dhanush also slammed the AI-altered ending of the film. In a statement on his official handles, he wrote, "The alternate ending has stripped the film of its very soul, and the concerned parties went ahead with it despite my clear objection. This is not the film I committed to 12 years ago."
Meanwhile, the company's group CEO Pradeep Dwivedi reacted to the backlash saying, "This is a creative reimagining, not a replacement, and is consistent with global industry practices, including anniversary editions, alternate cuts, and modernised remasters."
The incident has reignited debate in the entertainment industry about the ethical and legal implications of AI in filmmaking. While generative tools are increasingly being used for restoration, dubbing, and VFX, the unauthorised modification of film plots and stories has raised concerns.
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