Rana Daggubati compares fear of AI to resistance for VFX 20 years ago: We're not throwing rocket ships or going to war

When it comes to AI, there are talks about it being the 'new Golden age' and 'true democratization' or doomsday (as we can see with the rising unemployment numbers). The AI trend entered Indian cinema after Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor's movie Raanjhanaa ending was changed using the technology. Rana Daggubati, who was among the first to work with VFX, spoke about AI to The Hollywood Reporter during a round table interaction with Dulquer Salmaan, Vikramaditya Motwane and Archana Kalipathi. The Baahubali actor shared, "First is, disruption's always needed. Otherwise you get complacent with what you're doing. With new tech, there's always some kind of resistance at all times."

Rana Daggubati compares AI to VFX resistance in the past

He compared it to how VFX was rejected 20 years later, only for it to be used in movies massively till date. Thus, he feels there’s no good or bad to technology, but just an efficient way to function.

"I don't look at it as doomsday for us, unless it is used for war or something. Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously. We're just telling stories and making films - that's it. We're not throwing rocket ships or going to war. People are going to Mars with rockets - that's real stuff. We're just telling stories. I think it's just an aid to telling stories better," Rana shared.

Rana Daggubati excited for the new era in technology

Citing the example of how he heard AI is like a refrigerator where you can make and store many products and start serving as required. "It's like a soft drink makes money because of the refrigerator. It's not like the refrigerator has become the cold drink. Similarly, AI is the tool where you can serve your content to the audiences in a different way. We just have to work our way through it. We just feel it's doomsday because it has progressed so fast. It progresses much faster because of its computing power than any other tech we may have seen. To me, it's like a new internet age and I'm pretty excited about that."

AI, the boon as well as the bane

Dulquer Salmaan, on the other hand, raised concern about AI-generated images and videos. He and Rana spoke about the value in hand-painted art. For the uninitiated, AI took over feature films after Dhanush-Kriti Sanon's movie Raanjhanaa ending was changed using the technology.

Rana, still remaining optimistic, shared how AI could open up new jobs. He spoke about how other countries make time and apps pay their users. "Today our basic measurement of money is seen as effort invested. Countries like China use time as currency. That's a very democratic thing. It's like data apps now start paying you money for using your data. Your apps will start paying you in some manner. It'll be a different economy that'll come out of it and that's where the real disruption will be. It would be another style of operation and being," the actor shared.

FAQs

Q: Was Raanjhanaa hit or flop?

A: Raanjhanaa, which was released in 2013, was a hit movie.

Q: Did Zoya actually love Kundan?

A: Zoya leaves the press meet in agony and finds out through a policeman that Kundan was aware of the conspiracy and still allowed himself to be injured. Shocked by this incident and finally realizing her love for Kundan, she rushes to the hospital to confess her feelings. However, Kundan dies.

Q: Where can I watch Raanjhanaa?

A: Raanjhanaa is available on ZEE5 via OTTplay Premium!