Ready for your Bollywood debut? 15 ChatGPT prompts to give your photos a ’90s retro makeover

The latest image-generation tools of ChatGPT allow users to upload a picture of themselves from the 21st century and transport it back to the 20th century.

The Bollywood sentimentality lives on through the vivid, retro images of a chiffon saree billowing in the winds of Switzerland, a poignant farewell at a railway station or lovers running through endless mustard fields.

ChatGPT lets you use image-generation tools and custom prompts to transport your modern photographs back into nostalgic Bollywood film scenes. (Photo: Adobe Illustrator)

Now, ChatGPT can take that nostalgia a step further by putting you inside it.

The latest image-generation tools of ChatGPT allow users to upload a picture of themselves from the 21st century and, through detailed prompts, transport it back to the 20th century.

Deep Dive

What are some effective ChatGPT prompts for creating a 1990s Bollywood-style photo?

How does the AI photo trend transport modern photos to the 1990s Bollywood era?

Why are people interested in using ChatGPT for retro photo transformations?

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Your guide to the time machine

Open ChatGPT: Go to ChatGPT and select the ‘images’ option to access the image-generation feature

Upload your photograph: Choose a high-resolution picture where your face is clearly visible

Describe your vision: Type a detailed prompt explaining the transformation you want

Use the prompts below: Copy-paste any of the 15 prompts below and customise the details.

Prompts for various styles

1. Classic 90s Bollywood portrait

Transform my photo into an authentic mid-1990s Bollywood portrait with era-appropriate Indian styling, warm studio lighting, soft-focus photography, muted colours and subtle 35mm film grain.

2. Bollywood cassette cover

Turn my photo into the cover of a fictional 1995 Bollywood music cassette with dramatic styling, saturated colours, airbrushed highlights, bold Devanagari typography and vintage printed packaging.

3. Authentic 90s wedding portrait

Reimagine my photo as a glamorous 1997 Bollywood wedding portrait with rich traditional attire, jewellery, marigold décor, golden lighting and soft-focus analogue film photography.

4. PCO/STD booth scene

Place me inside a 1990s Indian STD/PCO booth, speaking on a corded landline, surrounded by handwritten rate charts, telephone directories and fluorescent lighting with nostalgic 35mm grain.

5. 90s family photo album page

Create an old Indian family album page featuring six different 1990s photographs of me, complete with handwritten dates, faded prints, uneven layouts and authentic analogue imperfections.

6. 90s photobooth strip

Turn my photo into a four-frame Indian photobooth strip from 1998, with playful expressions, harsh flash, soft focus and faded analogue print texture.

7. Bollywood MTV era (Y2K)

Transform my photo into a glossy 2002 Bollywood MTV promo still with funky fashion, colourful studio lights, dramatic poses and iconic early-2000s Bollywood styling.

8. Bollywood monsoon song

Recreate my photo as a rain-soaked Bollywood song sequence with dramatic wind, flowing clothes, dreamy lighting, saturated colours and cinematic 35mm texture.

9. Bollywood fan poster

Turn my photo into a handmade Bollywood fan poster from 2000 with glitter, stars, cut-out lettering, handwritten Hindi messages and vibrant nostalgic colours.

10. Kashmir houseboat romance

Place me on a traditional Kashmiri houseboat surrounded by misty mountains, calm waters, flowers and soft golden lighting in a dreamy 90s Bollywood romance set-up.

11. Bollywood haveli drama

Reimagine my photo inside a grand North Indian haveli with carved balconies, courtyards, traditional outfits, warm afternoon sunlight and the lavish feel of a 90s family drama.

12. Shimla Mall Road

Transform my photo into a romantic Bollywood scene on Shimla’s Mall Road with colonial buildings, misty weather, winter fashion and soft analogue film colours.

13. Mustard fields in Punjab

Place me in endless mustard fields in Punjab wearing vibrant 90s Bollywood clothing, with golden-hour sunlight, a gentle breeze and sweeping romantic cinematography.

14. Yellow taxi in Mumbai

Recreate my photo beside a classic yellow-and-black Mumbai taxi on a bustling 90s street, with monsoon skies, vintage city vibes and grainy Bollywood film photography.

15. The iconic dupatta moment

Create a quintessential 90s Bollywood frame where my dupatta catches dramatically in the wind, surrounded by lush greenery, golden sunlight, dreamy soft focus and nostalgic 35mm film grain.

From mustard fields to monsoon songs, these prompts turn everyday photographs into little Bollywood time capsules. Add your own details, experiment with the settings and see which version of the ’90s feels most like yours!