AI Mahabharata faces backlash over ‘odd’ scene: ‘Felt really uncomfortable watching with family’

In a scene showing Ganga with her child inside a royal chamber, viewers noticed a glaring mismatch, a distinctly modern bedside table with drawers sitting next to an otherwise period-perfect setup.

The table appears only for a few seconds, but that was enough for viewers to capture and share it

A new version of the Mahabharata, titled Mahabharat–Ek Dharmayudh, has started streaming on JioHotstar, and it’s unlike any other adaptation. Created entirely through artificial intelligence, the show features no human actors, physical sets, or on-location shoots. While the experiment has sparked curiosity, it has also drawn sharp criticism from filmmakers and audiences alike for “normalising” AI-generated content at a time when many in the creative industry are pushing back against it.

Now, the show has found itself at the centre of fresh ridicule after viewers spotted an odd detail in one of the early scenes, a piece of modern furniture placed right in the middle of ancient Hastinapur.

In the first episode, released on October 25, the story focuses on the birth of Prince Devvrat (later known as Bheeshma) to King Shantanu and Goddess Ganga. In a scene showing Ganga with her child inside a royal chamber, viewers noticed a glaring mismatch, a distinctly modern bedside table with drawers sitting next to an otherwise period-perfect setup.

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The table appears only for a few seconds, but that was enough for viewers to pause, capture, and share it online. “Watching AI Mahabharata on Jio Hotstar… I’m dying at the bedside desk,” one amused viewer wrote on X, posting the screenshot that quickly went viral.

Check out the post:

Watching AI mahabharata on Jio Hotstar.. I’m dying at the bed-side desk 😆 pic.twitter.com/eQcIk0ArZz

— tere naina (@nainaverse) November 2, 2025

Social media erupted with laughter and commentary. An X user wrote, “My mum was watching it day before and I was beside she was saying “see so perfect they look” then I explained her that an AI mom, she got upset really (last generation to be innocent).”

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Another user commented, “AI Mahabharata is a strange combination. Have to wonder if the AI changes the story or just makes the old lessons look different. Feels like a very 2025 way to watch it.”

A third user added, “Not well made… very carelessly. Appreciate the enthusiasm but sorry… this is not perfect. The AI company should have worked more on it.”

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A fourth commenter quipped, “Missing a wireless charger.” A fifth person wrote, “Don’t know but I felt really uncomfortable watching it with family and had to off. Some scenes are very weird.”