Renowned filmmaker Aanand L Rai has publicly denounced the AI-generated “happy ending” added to the Tamil re-release of his 2013 cult film Raanjhanaa, released under the title Ambikapathy on August 1, 2025. He called it “an abject betrayal” and deeply upsetting, affirming he was not consulted or involved in the alteration process.

What Happened

• Eros International, the rights holder, added an AI-generated happy ending where protagonist Kundan (played by Dhanush) lives—contrasting the original tragic climax where he dies.
• The AI version reportedly also alters visuals and voices of the lead actors without consent.

A Director’s Outrage

• Rai described the decision as a “reckless takeover” and a gross violation of the creative trust placed in collaborators by fans and industry.
• Emotional trust, he emphasized, was compromised: “Intent and authorship are disposable.” He has formally distanced himself from the AI-altered version.
• Rai has asked for his name to be removed from the version and is exploring legal action via the Indian Film & TV Directors’ Association.

Industry Support & Ethical Debate

• Fellow directors Neeraj Pandey, Kabir Khan, Renuka Shahane, and writer Kanika Dhillon slammed the move as “utterly disrespectful” and “preposterous”. They argued legal rights do not equate to moral license over creative legacy.

Creative Consent & AI Governance: Rai’s Call for Reform

• While Rai is open to using AI in his own work—such as colour grading and testing alternate narrative experiments—he asserts that altering a completed film post‑release crosses an ethical line.
• He is advocating for contract reforms and industry guidelines to ensure mandatory creator consent for any future AI modifications.

Legacy vs. Innovation: Why Rai Believes Raanjhanaa Didn’t Need a Rewrite

• The film’s cult status stems from its imperfections, emotional honesty, and the tragic ending that resonated deeply with audiences.
• According to Rai, the emotional core and thematic depth of Raanjhanaa cannot be preserved by repackaging it with algorithmic optimism.

Key Quotes It is a reckless takeover that strips the work of its intent, its context, and its soul.”
To cloak a film’s emotional legacy in a synthetic cape without consent, is not a creative act. It’s an abject betrayal of everything we built.

What Happens Next

• Raanjhanaa was originally released in 2013 and dubbed in Tamil as Ambikapathy. The AI-altered version is positioned as an optional alternative, not a replacement—though Rai rejects this framing.
• The controversy is amplifying urgent industry-wide debates on AI ethics, creative rights, and the need for transparent governance mechanisms when it comes to modifying archival content.

Release & Creative Team

• Yash Raj Films dropped “Aavan Jaavan” on July 31, 2025, as a special birthday gift for Kiara Advani’s 34th birthday, who has recently become a mother
• Sung by Arijit Singh and Nikhita Gandhi, composed by Pritam, and lyricized by Amitabh Bhattacharya. The track is directed by Ayan Mukerji, reuniting the hit team behind the song “Kesariya” from Brahmastra

Song Concept & Visuals

• It’s a flashback love ballad that explores the emotional history of Kabir (Hrithik) and Kavya (Kiara), adding depth to the spy thriller’s story arc
• Filmed in stunning European locales like Rome and Tuscany, the music video exudes elegance, romance, and scale fitting a globetrotting spy romance

Fan & Critic Reactions

• Positive reactions flooded in on X (Twitter): “Aavan Jaavan is romance in lower case. Soft, slow, secret,” and “The chemistry is FIRE! Hrithik Roshan & Kiara Advani set the screen ablaze… pure magic”
• Fans praised visual aesthetics, chemistry, and cinematic scale—some calling it a “chartbuster in the making”

However, views are not unanimously positive:

• Some social media users criticized it for rehashing Hrithik’s signature beach‑style formula from previous hits, calling the choreography “tired” and likening it to “Nimbu pani in a new bottle”
• At least one review deemed the track “okayish,” claiming it’s not up to the bar set by Ghungroo, while noting a lack of song vibe and what some called “bland” chemistry. Comments included, “Melody wise it’s mundane,” and “Kiara has the same expression throughout and Hrithik looks old.”

On Reddit and other platforms, viewers coined terms like “mama‑bhanji chemistry” and “TikTokia moves,” critiquing the lack of romantic spark and dismissing the dance sequences as trend‑driven rather than original

Final Take

“Aavan Jaavan” is a stylish and emotionally grounded romantic track that provides insight into the film’s backstory while showcasing the on‑screen reunion of Hrithik, Kiara, and the Pritam–Arijit team.

• Those loving lush visuals, cinematic romance, and emotional weight—welcome the song with enthusiasm.
• Meanwhile, skeptics question whether it offers anything fresh creatively, with some pointing to repetitive visual motifs and choreography.

Film Context & Expectations

• War 2, directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced by Aditya Chopra, arrives in theaters on August 14, 2025, across India and IMAX screens, leading up to the Independence Day weekend release
• While the first song leans into romance, fans are still eagerly awaiting explosive action between Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR — the ultimate face-off teased in the trailer

Film Overview & Background

• A feature film tentatively titled Honeymoon in Shillong, is underway, depicting the sensational murder case of Raja Raghuvanshi, a 29‑year‑old transport businessman from Indore, who disappeared and was later found dead in Meghalaya during his honeymoon in May–June 2025
• The director at the helm is S P Nimbawat, and the Raghuvanshi family has officially given their consent for the film’s production
  

Production Scope & Creative Intent

• According to Rashin Raghuvanshi’s brothers, legal and logistics are finalized. 80% of shooting is to take place in Indore and 20% in Meghalaya (locations tied to the actual events)
• The film aims to depict a message against betrayal and shed light on the truth behind the events, as per the family’s vision

Real Events vs Creative Interpretation

• While the script has been cleared by the family, Raja’s brother Vipin Raghuvanshi cautions that the film will be only ~50% factual, with creative dramatization to enhance narrative impact
• The family insists that “only the truth must be shown”, and hopes to avoid sensationalism while still ensuring audience engagement
  

Recap of the Original Case

• Raja and his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi went missing in Meghalaya on May 23, 2025 during their honeymoon. On June 2, Raja’s decomposed body was found in a gorge near Wei Sawdong Falls in Sohra (Cherrapunji)
• Investigators concluded that it was a premeditated murder, allegedly orchestrated by Sonam in collusion with her alleged lover Raj Kushwaha and a group of hired killers
• Sonam surrendered in Ghazipur and was arrested. Multiple accomplices have been arrested, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is handling the case
  

Family Stance & Legal Developments

• The Raghuvanshi family, led by brothers Sachin and Vipin, came forward publicly to support the film project. They want to ensure Raja’s story is told correctly, while also protecting the image of Meghalaya by working collaboratively on the project.
• Vipin visited the crime scene, performed a puja, collected Raja’s death certificate, and is actively opposing bail pleas for some of the co‑accused
  

Aamir Khan Rumors Debunked

• Despite speculation, reports linking Aamir Khan to the film adaptation have been denied by the actor. He is not involved in the project as of now

Summary

The film Honeymoon in Shillong will dramatize the mysterious and tragic murder of Raja Raghuvanshi—a case that captivated India in mid‑2025. With family consent, the film is directed by S P Nimbawat, blending real events with dramatized storytelling. While production is underway, casting details remain undisclosed. The family hopes the film will clarify the truth and deliver a social message against betrayal, though creative liberties are acknowledged in the narrative.