Karan Johar Backs Filmmaker Aanand L. Rai in 'Raanjhanaa' AI-Altered Ending Controversy

In October 2025, Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has publicly defended director Aanand L. Rai in the ongoing controversy surrounding the re-release of the 2013 romantic drama 'Raanjhanaa' with an AI-altered climax. The film was brought back to theaters in August 2025 with a new ending, triggering disagreements between the producer, Eros International, and the original creators.

Johar, who was asked about the issue on the show 'Game Changers', argued that while a producer owning the full rights technically has control, there should also be moral awareness. He emphasized that altering a director's original vision without their consent is questionable, stating that he always consults the director before making changes to their film, even when he owns the intellectual property (IP).

Johar urged that Eros should have reached out to Aanand L. Rai, whose creative vision was central to 'Raanjhanaa'. He called the AI-revised ending "inauthentic" and suggested that natural storytelling often resonates better with audiences. The AI-altered version saw the character Kundan (played by Dhanush) opening his eyes, turning a tragic conclusion into a more hopeful one, which drew criticism from the lead actors as well.

Eros has defended its actions, calling the redo a "legal reinterpretation," but Aanand L. Rai has repeatedly stated that such changes set a dangerous precedent, as they can alter a filmmaker's original intent. Karan Johar's vocal support for Rai in this controversy highlights the ongoing debate around creative control and the role of technology in the film industry.