'Raanjhanaa': Eros Says 'No Formal Objection' Was Communicated By Dhanush's Team After Actor Slams AI Re-Release
Actor Dhanush had claimed that 'Raanjhanaa' makers proceeded with the AI-altered climax despite his 'clear objection'.
The producers of Raanjhanaa, who re-released an AI-powered Tamil version of the film last Friday, have slammed the movie's lead star Dhanush and denied that the actor or his team put forth a "formal objection" to the new cut. Dhanush had put out a statement, distancing himself from the new "happy" version of the film featuring an alternate ending, sparing his character, Kundan, from his original tragic fate.
"The re-release of Raanjhanaa with an AI-altered climax has completely disturbed me. This alternate ending has stripped the film of its very soul, and the concerned parties went ahead with it despite my clear objection," Dhanush had said.
Responding to this, Eros International Media Limited said,"We would like to respectfully clarify that an Eros representative had engaged in direct communication with Mr Dhanush's team regarding the proposed revisions, and no formal objection was communicated to us prior the AI-enhanced re-release of Ambikapathy."
The studio said that while they acknowledge and "respect differing views" on the use of AI in the film, the team's aim is to explore how technology can complement storytelling and offer fresh dimensions for audiences — "never to undermine the original essence of a film. The original Raanjhanaa and Ambikapathy remains much loved and widely available, and the IP is fully preserved."
In other statements shared with media, Eros claimed that the re-release of Ambikapathy with an alternate AI-assisted ending is "a legally compliant, transparently labeled, and artistically guided creative edition" which does not "replace or alter" the original Raanjhanaa, that "remains untouched and widely available across all platforms."
In an earlier interview with THR India, Raanjhanaa filmmaker Aanand L Rai had slammed the re-release and shared, "Tomorrow, if somebody says that legally, they can alter a film or tamper with it even before it reaches the audience, what will happen? My concern right now is not for me, but for all the filmmakers. I can understand that IP legally belongs to them. They can release, they can make more money out of it. Not a problem. Why tamper?"