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Journalism of Courage
Director Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) recently shared an AI-generated video from his X account that left viewers both intrigued and unsettled. The video, which quickly went viral, features an AI version of RGV dining in a lavish restaurant, indulging in a hyper-realistic AI-created dish. Joining him at the table is an AI recreation of late Bollywood icon Sridevi.
The clip begins with RGV asking Sridevi an unsettling question: “Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? Younger, more beautiful, more perfect.” The video then unveils a mysterious vial labelled “SUBSTANCE,” claiming it holds the power to “unlock your DNA and release another version of yourself.”
What follows is a surreal twist. The video cuts to an AI-generated Janhvi Kapoor, the younger version of Sridevi’s character, in a dream-like setting. The scene abruptly shifts to chaos as Sridevi appears panicked, calling out, “There’s been a slight misuse of substance.”
The video ends showing Sridevi confronting a sinister reflection of her daughter in the mirror, only for the screen to fade with an ominous voice warning, “The balance is not working.”
Watch the AI video:
The video is an AI reimagination of The Substance, with AI versions of RGV, Sridevi and Jhanvi Kapoor playing the roles of Dennis Quaid, Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, respectively.
RGV posted the video saying, “AI is becoming TOO MUCH.” The video has been viewed more than four lakh times. Many users reacted with different takes on the video.
One user wrote, “What am I even seeing oh man this AI.” Another person commented, “Total credits for who created this interpretation.”
A third user said, “AI’s rapid growth can feel overwhelming, but it’s a tool—how we use it defines its impact.”
The Substance follows Elisabeth Sparkle, an aerobics star fired due to her age. Desperate to reclaim her youth and success, she turns to a black market drug that creates a younger, more vibrant version of herself named Sue. However, this “upgrade” comes with unforeseen consequences as Elisabeth and Sue grapple with their shared consciousness, conflicting desires, and the terrifying prospect of ageing irrevocably.
