‘Kundan is alive!’: Dhanush fans emotional over AI-altered ending for re-released Raanjhanaa

Director Aanand L Rai might be fuming over the AI-altered ending for his 2013 hit Raanjhanaa but Dhanush fans are over the moon.

Updated on: Aug 1, 2025, 16:34:13 IST

By Neeshita Nyayapati

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Director Aanand L Rai might be seething that Eros International re-released his 2013 hit Raanjhanaa with an AI-altered ending, but fans seem to be loving it. The Tamil version of the Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor-starrer, Ambikapathy, seems to have charmed the audience in particular with the new ending. (Also Read: Devastated Aanand L Rai calls AI-altered version of Raanjhanaa ‘deeply upsetting’: ‘It's an abject betrayal’)

Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor in a still from Aanand L Rai's Raanjhanaa.

Dhanush fans emotional with Raanjhanaa’s AI-altered ending

After Raanjhanaa/Ambikapathy was re-released in theatres on 1 August, Dhanush fans who watched his Hindi debut with its new AI-altered ending took to social media to share their reactions. One fan posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “AI version new climax response for #Ambikapathy re release. #IdlyKadai #Ambikapathy #Dhanush.” In the video, fans can be heard whistling and screaming as Dhanush’s Kundan, who dies in the original, opens his eyes again and lives.

Other fans also reacted to the ending, with some claiming it made them emotional. One fan wrote, “My Kundhan Is Alive I'm so Emotional while watching. Thank You Al #Raanjhanaa.” Another wrote, “#Raanjhanaa / #Ambikapathy gets a beautiful twist with a new AI-generated climax & it's so realistic, it hits right in the feels. Kundhan is alive... and so is our love for this timeless story. AI just gave fans the closure they always wanted.”

One emotional fan wrote, “Unexpected AI Version climax. Kundan Is Alive.” “Our Kundan Is Alive #Ambikapathi New AI climax done realistically,” thought another. One fan agreed that Aanand’s vision was altered but said it made them happy to see Kundan alive, “Now I'm Happy Forever. @aanandlrai Sir I Agree No One Can Match Your Efforts As Original Making. But As a Dhanush Fanatic We Loved To See Kundhan Alive. @dhanushkraja #Raanjhanaa #Ambikapathy.”

One Dhanush fan even rewrote the lore to wonder if Aanand and Dhanush’s upcoming film will see Kundan Shankar, writing, “AI hai toh mumkin hai, Lekin Kundan agar nehi mara toh kya #TereIshqMein jo Shankar hai, wahi humara Kundan hai kya. (Anything is possible with AI. But if Kundan is alive, does that mean Shankar in Tere Ishk Mein is Kundan?)”

About Raanjhanaa

Raanjhanaa stars Dhanush as Kundan Shankar, a young man who falls for Sonam’s Zoya Haider. Zoya, however, is in love with Akram Zaidi, whose real name is Jasjeet Singh Shergill, played by Abhay Deol. The film ends with Kundan dying while musing about being born in Varanasi and falling in love with Zoya again.

Ever since the AI-altered ending of Raanjhanaa was announced, Aanand has stated in numerous interviews that it sets a dangerous precedent for changing filmmakers' vision. He has also pointed out that his permission wasn’t taken from Eros before they altered the ending to a ‘happy’ one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeshita Nyayapati
Despite having a Master's degree in Journalism and over a decade of experience in print and digital media as a field reporter and sub-editor at organisations such as The Times of India and Reader's Digest, Neeshita Nyayapati remains a movie buff first and a Chief Content Producer second. She fell in love with movies in childhood and believes nothing matches the magic of watching a good film that moves you with a warm tub of popcorn in hand. Her love for writing about cinema follows that. Come Friday, you'll find her at her happy place, the movies, catching the latest rom-com or masala offering, for reviews or otherwise. As for the rest of the week, she's here reporting the juiciest news in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi or bringing out the best of celebs in interviews. While her niche is Telugu cinema, Neeshita likes to dabble in a little bit of everything to stay up to date. From film announcements to scandals and hard news angles, she has explored it all. A good book, a comforting cup of hot chocolate, puppy kisses and a stunning beach view are all she needs to unwind. Her passion for biking and travelling has taken her to various places across the country. She has found peace in everything from the frozen lakes of Gangtok to the coffee plantations of Coorg and the dense forests of Bandipur, to the monasteries of Darjeeling. But no matter where she goes, Neeshita loves coming across inspiring and moving stories.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.