FPJ 97th Anniversary: AI forges A New Frontier In Filmmaking, Beyond Hollywood's Playbook

While Hollywood grapples with the ethical and creative implications of Artificial Intelligence, Indian cinema is quietly forging ahead, potentially redefining the future of filmmaking. Far beyond mere scriptwriting or de-ageing actors, Indian directors and studios are embracing full-throttle, prompt-driven AI production, positioning themselves as global pioneers in this rapidly evolving frontier. 

India Eyes First-Ever AI Feature Film

The race for India's first AI-generated feature film is on, with upcoming Hindi films like Naisha and Maharaja in Denims, alongside the Kannada-language Love You, vying for the prestigious title.

In this context, "AI-generated" signifies a profound shift, extending beyond niche tasks to encompass the entire filmmaking process, from conceptualisation to visualisation. 

AI Tools Power Entire Film Pipelines

Unlike their Western counterparts who often relegate AI to specific functions, Indian filmmakers are leveraging cutting-edge tools like Midjourney, Luma AI, Runway, and ElevenLabs to plan entire scenes, sketch out narratives, and even visualise complete films from text prompts.

This aggressive innovation is pushing creative boundaries and raising fascinating questions about the future of traditional production methodologies. 

Bollywood and Tollywood Go All-In On AI Studios

The burgeoning landscape has led to the emergence of dedicated AI filmmaking studios across the country. Tollywood's renowned producer Dil Raju has launched Larven AI Studio, while Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn has entered the fray with Prismix.

Chandigarh-based Intelliflicks Studios is behind Maharaja in Denims, and Mumbai-based Amazing Indian Stories is developing Naisha. These new players are driving significant investment in this radical technology, signalling a powerful shift in the industry's approach. 

Ajay Devgn Calls AI ‘A Creative Partner’

Ajay Devgn, who will lead Prismix as chairman, emphasised the transformative potential: “With Prismix, we are stepping into the future of storytelling. AI is not just a tool but a creative partner that can help filmmakers and brands bring their vision to life in ways never imagined before. Our goal is to revolutionise media by making high-quality, AI-driven content more accessible and scalable.”

He will be joined by his nephew Danish Devgn as co-founder and chief business officer, Vatsal Sheth as co-founder and chief executive officer, and Sahil Nayar as co-founder and chief creative officer. 

Dil Raju's Studio Backs AI-Led Pre-Productio

Veteran producer Dil Raju, explaining the genesis of Lorven AI Studio, highlighted its practical applications: “We’ve been discussing AI for the last two years. Our company, in collaboration with Quantum, decided to develop something impactful for cinema. We envisioned how a 360-degree movie could be made—from script idea to final screenplay—that’s the first stage. This tool will be extremely helpful for newcomers.”

Raju further elaborated on the studio's focus on pre-production: “It feels like a miracle… You can think of ‘Lorven AI’ as a first assistant director—without emotions. It greatly aids directors on the creative side.”

The studio is already utilising the system for the pre-production of Rowdy Janardhan starring Vijay Deverakonda, and two other projects, Tella Kagitam and a VFX-heavy movie. 

Nag Ashwin Supports AI Integration In Filmmaking

Acclaimed director Nag Ashwin of Kalki 2898 AD fame, a project that already experimented with AI, in its workflows expressed his enthusiasm for Lorven AI: “When Raju spoke about this project, his honesty and passion were evident. Updating oneself is not easy—congratulations to him. I’m eagerly waiting to use this software. I believe it enhances creativity.” 

Srijit Mukherji Resurrects Uttam Kumar On Screen

Early adopters are already demonstrating AI's disruptive potential. Filmmaker Srijit Mukherji, in a daring move, "resurrected" Bengali legend Uttam Kumar for his film Oti Uttam. Mukherji shared the genesis of this audacious idea: “In every death or birth anniversary [of Uttam Kumar], I have been asked how I would have cast him if he was alive today. One year, I thought, ‘Why not give it a shot? Why not try and make a film which stars Uttam Kumar? And since I have not had the good fortune of being born in his era, let's see whether technology can make this possible.”

Acknowledging the monumental risk involved in featuring a cultural icon of such sentimental value, Mukherji revealed, “It was a huge risk… It paid off when it [kind of] became a huge success at the box office.” 

AI Democratises Filmmaking, Says Naisha Creator

Vivek Anchalia, the visionary behind Naisha, who hopes to be the first Indian filmmaker to deliver a fully AI-driven film, firmly believes AI will augment, not replace, human creativity.

"People are people who can use, it's like, It's like you, you are going to a war. If you have the latest gun, you are at an advantage. It's as simple as that," Anchalia stated, drawing an analogy to the constant evolution of filmmaking tools.

"Technology is a huge part of what we do. We are shooting on cameras, which are machines, right? We are already - half of our equipment that makes a film possible, whether it's an editing machine, whether it is say voicing where mics are used, the sound studios." 

Anchalia does not foresee technology dictating content, asserting that "original voices are still going to exist. Your great stories will be interesting. I think it'll eventually come down to voices only.” He further championed AI's potential to democratise creativity, a sentiment echoed by many aspiring filmmakers.

“What AI will do is, till last year, any filmmaker, any writer still needed permission to make a film, right? You need permissions from an actor, you need permissions from a producer, you need permissions from a studio. Right now, what [platforms like YouTube] did for creators, I think AI will do for filmmakers. So, so I think, I think we will be able to make films today. It's still maybe a little expensive. It's going to get cheaper and cheaper.”

He envisions a future with a proliferation of storytellers, free from the constraints of traditional systems, allowing audiences to choose from a wider array of narratives. 

The implications for the broader industry are immense. Experts predict a potential paradigm shift in production timelines and budgets, making filmmaking more accessible to independent creators. This democratising effect could lead to a surge in diverse narratives and regional content, further enriching India's already vibrant cinematic landscape.

The focus on prompt-driven entire film visualisation also points to a future where directors can iterate on ideas with unprecedented speed and precision, moving from concept to a near-final product with efficiency that was previously unimaginable.

This innovative approach, deeply embedded in India's tech-forward mindset, contrasts sharply with the cautious, often reactive, stance seen in some Western film industries. 

AI to Disrupt Stardom, Predicts Shekhar Kapur

Noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur underscored AI's ability to offer creative freedom, particularly for those without access to top talent or hefty budgets. "Actors are going to be just actors, because AI will create stars going ahead. AI will create more human-like stars. And I can create a star using AI and have my copyright,” he confidently stated.

This vision suggests a future where the traditional power structures of stardom could be decentralised, giving more creative control to filmmakers. The emergence of AI as a 'creative partner' is not merely a technological upgrade but a fundamental re-imagining of the cinematic process, with India leading the charge. 

25 Years Of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam: 8 Interesting Facts About Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai & Ajay Devgn-Starrer

India Leads While Hollywood Hesitates

India's film industry is not just adopting, but aggressively innovating with AI, potentially setting a new global standard for cinematic creation. The emergence of AI-first studios and the bold experiments by visionary filmmakers signal a future where technology empowers storytelling in ways previously unimaginable. Let's say AI to that!