An AI-generated clip featuring Mahesh Babu and S. S. Rajamouli in a staged fistfight has stirred fresh debate about deepfake content in the film industry. The video, which clearly stated that it was artificially created, shows the actor and director engaged in a violent confrontation inside a cafe.
The clip caught the attention of filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who shared it on X and reacted strongly. In a brief but pointed remark, he wrote, “Cinema is dead,” expressing his disapproval of the growing influence of artificial intelligence in entertainment.
The video quickly divided social media users. While some viewers called the trend dangerous and disturbing, urging creators to stop producing such content, others dismissed it as inappropriate and unsettling. A section of users, however, appeared amused. A few joked about the realism of the visuals, while others made light-hearted comments about the performances shown in the clip.
The timing of the video has drawn additional attention as Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu are currently working together on their first collaboration, Varanasi. The upcoming film also features Priyanka Chopra and Prithviraj Sukumaran. With anticipation already high around the project, the AI clip has further intensified online conversations about technology’s role in cinema.
As artificial intelligence tools become more advanced, the industry continues to grapple with questions around ethics, consent and creative integrity.
