TITLE: Indian Cinema Embraces AI Tools, Unlike Hollywood Resistance

AI Transforms Independent Filmmaking in India

Artificial intelligence is reshaping India's vast film industry, allowing independent creators to produce feature-length movies on shoestring budgets and integrating into major productions for visual effects and pre-visualization. This rapid adoption contrasts sharply with Hollywood's resistance, where actors and writers staged strikes in 2023 to limit AI's role.

Screenwriter-director Vivek Anchalia exemplifies this shift. Struggling to secure funding for his project, Anchalia turned to AI tools including ChatGPT for scripting assistance and Midjourney for generating visuals. Over one year, he developed Naisha, a 75-minute romantic film featuring unreleased songs from his lyricist portfolio. The AI-generated protagonist even secured an endorsement deal with a Hyderabad jewelry brand after the trailer's release.

The film's budget was less than 15% of a typical Bollywood production, with 95% of its content created using AI. Anchalia described the process as iterative but efficient, requiring thousands of prompts to refine visuals. "AI has democratized filmmaking," he said, noting that aspiring creators with limited resources can now produce professional work independently.

Integration into Mainstream Productions

Established filmmakers are also incorporating AI into workflows. Director Jithin Laal used the technology during pre-production for the Malayalam blockbuster Ajayante Randam Moshanam to visualize a complex lock mechanism that proved difficult to describe to his visual effects team. This AI-driven pre-visualization has become a standard part of his process, allowing teams to test scenes before committing significant resources.

In another example, filmmaker Arun Chandu produced the post-apocalyptic sci-fi satire Gaganachari on a budget of 20 million Indian rupees ($240,000), comparable to the cost of a lavish wedding. He employed tools like Stable Diffusion alongside Photoshop to craft military sequences, highlighting AI's role in enabling ambitious visuals on limited funds.

Sound design has seen similar advancements. Designers Sankaran AS and KC Sidharthan utilize AI platforms such as Soundly and Krotos Studio's Reformer to generate and edit effects quickly. These tools allow real-time adjustments using voice cues, reducing the need for extensive studio time. "We can now handle last-minute ideas immediately," Sankaran said.

De-Aging and Visual Effects Gain Traction

AI's application in de-aging actors has drawn particular attention. In the 2025 Malayalam thriller Rekhachithram, a 73-year-old Mammootty was digitally rejuvenated to appear in his 30s, using footage from his 1988 film Manu Uncle remastered in 4K. Visual effects supervisor Andrew Jacob D'Crus noted initial challenges with grainy results from older sources but praised the final output, which received widespread acclaim on social media as one of the best AI recreations in Indian cinema. The film became one of the year's top-grossing Malayalam releases.

Veteran actor Sathyaraj, known for the Baahubali series, endorsed the technology after appearing de-aged from 70 to 30 in the 2024 Tamil superhero film Weapon. Director Guhan Senniappan credited AI with preventing production delays, as it facilitated a stylized action sequence inspired by Kill Bill without exceeding the budget or timeline.

Contrasts with Hollywood and Ethical Debates

India's embrace of AI stands in stark opposition to Hollywood, where the 2023 strikes by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA halted productions over fears of job displacement and unauthorized use of likenesses. In the U.S., controversies have arisen, such as the de-aging of Tom Hanks in the 2024 film Here, which faced criticism for its execution.

In India, however, the technology faces fewer labor barriers but sparks debates on creativity and ethics. Director Shekhar Kapur argued in 2023 that AI cannot replicate human emotions like fear or love, lacking cultural nuances essential for storytelling. A re-release of the 2013 film Raanjhanaa in Tamil featured an AI-altered happy ending without the original director's consent, raising consent issues.

Filmmakers like Laal emphasize AI's limitations in emotional depth, viewing it as a tool rather than a replacement for human intuition. Skeptics question whether low-budget AI films truly advance the industry or introduce risks, such as over-reliance on algorithms that may homogenize content.

Despite these concerns, AI's cost efficiencies and creative possibilities continue to drive adoption across India's diverse regional cinemas, from Bollywood to Malayalam and Tamil industries. As the technology evolves, it promises to further lower barriers to entry while prompting ongoing discussions about its long-term impact on artistic integrity.