The Collective Artists Network, long known for managing the careers of real-life Bollywood icons, is now engineering digital ones. In its Bengaluru studio, filmmakers use AI tools to craft stories drawn from Hindu mythology, a genre that continues to captivate audiences nationwide. One project reimagines a scene from the epic “Ramayana,” showing the god Hanuman flying while carrying a mountain. Another, based on the “Mahabharat,” depicts the princess Gandhari blindfolding herself upon marrying a blind king.
India is the world’s largest movie-producing nation, home to stars such as Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, whose fan followings rival those of global icons. Yet the industry is under pressure. Traditional box-office audiences have declined from 1.03 billion in 2019 to 832 million in 2025, according to Ormax Media. While 2025 saw record box-office revenue of $1.4 billion, the industry has faced post-pandemic volatility, relying on a handful of blockbusters and higher ticket prices to stay afloat.
To adapt, Indian studios are deploying AI on a scale that surpasses much of Hollywood. AI is now being used to generate entire films, dub content into multiple languages, and even recut endings of older titles. The technology compresses production timelines and slashes costs—but not without risk. Audiences have sometimes reacted harshly to AI-produced content, raising questions about authenticity and artistry.
“AI is slashing production costs to one-fifth of what they used to be for traditional filmmaking in genres such as mythology and fantasy,” said Rahul Regulapati, head of Galleri5. “Production time? Down to a quarter.”
Unlike Hollywood, where union contracts and fears of job loss have limited AI’s penetration, Indian studios are embracing the technology aggressively. One major studio is reviewing its entire library for potential AI re-releases, while tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia are forming early partnerships with Indian filmmakers.
AI Rewrites History and Endings
AI is not just cutting costs—it’s rewriting cinematic history. In 2025, Eros Media World re-released the 2013 hit “Raanjhanaa” with an AI-altered happy ending. The protagonist, who originally died, now opens his eyes to the surprise of his lover. The move sparked backlash, with lead actor Dhanush saying the remake had “stripped the film of its very soul.”
Yet audiences responded positively: PVR Inox reported that 35% of tickets sold for the AI-enhanced Tamil version, 12 points above the chain’s 2025 average. Encouraged, Eros is now reviewing its 3,000-title catalog for AI-assisted adaptations. “It’s both a revenue opportunity and a creative renewal strategy,” said CEO Pradeep Dwivedi.
In India, studios face fewer legal hurdles than their Hollywood counterparts. Contracts in the U.S. protect actors and directors from unauthorized AI alterations, but in India, studios can experiment more freely, especially with mythological content. Collective plans eight AI-generated films centered on Hindu deities including Hanuman, Krishna, Durga, and Kali, while JioStar, a joint venture between Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance and Walt Disney, has been airing an AI version of “Mahabharat” with over 26.5 million views since October.
Audience reception has been mixed. The AI “Mahabharat” currently holds a 1.4/10 rating on IMDb, with critics citing poor lip-sync and unnatural styling. “There’s a mix of appreciation and healthy debate, which is natural for any ambitious creative leap,” said JioStar executive Alok Jain.
AI Dubbing and Global Partnerships
Dubbing is proving to be a more palatable AI application. India’s 22 official languages require films to navigate complex micro-markets, and mismatched lip movements have long frustrated viewers. Startups like NeuralGarage are changing that. Using AI, actors’ performances can be dubbed in multiple languages, preserving expressions and speaking style while syncing lips perfectly.
Global tech giants are also joining the party. Google partnered with director Shakun Batra to produce a five-part AI series, while Microsoft provides computing power to fuel AI-assisted storytelling. Collective’s hybrid approach combines motion-capture suits, smartphone facial scans, and AI animation, allowing nuanced control over digital actors.
Festivals for AI shorts are proliferating worldwide, with India hosting its first in Mumbai in 2025. Nvidia has joined the movement, aiming to lower production costs so independent creators can produce high-quality content without massive budgets.
Bollywood directors are divided. Anurag Kashyap, while skeptical about AI’s artistic implications, acknowledges its economic pull: “In India, cinema isn’t about art. It’s purely business, so studios are going to use it to make mythologicals. Our audience is a sucker for it.”
The Future of Filmmaking
India is positioning itself as a global leader in AI cinema. While Hollywood experiments cautiously due to union rules, Indian studios are boldly reshaping storytelling, production, and even the endings of beloved classics. The question is no longer whether AI will be part of Bollywood—it’s how far it can go before audiences push back.