Maharaja In Denims: “Behind The Scenes” (les coulisses)
Maharaja In Denims: The first Bollywood film entirely generated by AI will hit theaters this summer. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of the latest technological advancements.
02.05.2026, 12:02 – 02.05.2026, 13:50
Seema SINHA/ afp
Maharaja in Denims is set to become the first Bollywood film entirely produced by artificial intelligence (AI) by the end of the summer.
Unlike its more regulated American counterpart, the Indian film industry – with over 2000 productions a year – has embraced AI wholeheartedly through several projects. Two feature films: Chiranjeevi Hanuman: The Eternal and Love You, had long been competing for the top spot but never made it to the cinema. So, Maharaja in Denims is likely to take the crown in this new category.
Visuals from Maharaja in Denims.
Image: AFP
Taken from the eponymous novel by Khushwant Singh published in 2014, the film is produced by Intelliflicks studios. They were co-founded in Chandigarh, Northern India in 2023 by the author and Gurdeep Singh Pall, a former vice president of Microsoft.
“Gurdeep wanted to prove that it was possible to make a feature film with AI tools. He wanted to experiment with my book, and that’s how Intelliflicks came about.”
Khushwant Singh
His best-selling book tells the story of a Chandigarh teenager from a wealthy family who believes he is the reincarnation of Ranjit Singh, the Maharaja who founded the Sikh Empire in the 19th century, and a victim of the violence that targeted this community in 1984, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi. These epic tales usually require a considerable budget when filmed.
But in this case, AI has allowed the budget to be divided by ten. “Filmmakers had estimated costs to be over 500 million rupees (4.65 million euros) in a traditional format. We should finish it for around 40 to 50 million rupees,” Singh rejoices.
“No actors’ fees, no delayed or disrupted shoots (…) no set problems: everything relies on the creativity of the mind and the machine”
The only exception to the computer’s reign: the music, composed and performed by humans. Sukhwinder Singh performs the main song. He lent his voice to the musical soundtrack of Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle’s eight-Oscar-winning film.
Maharaja In Denims: Behind The Scenes
Video: Watson
Technological Evolution
Even though AI has allowed overcoming many material constraints, the “filming”, entrusted to a tiny team of barely six people, was far from a breeze.
Firstly, because the technological tools are not well-trained to reproduce Indian faces. “It would have been much easier to make a Western,” observes the director, “if we had anticipated these difficulties, we would have chosen a different scenario…”
Secondly, because ongoing advancements forced continuous changes to the editing. “Technology is constantly advancing,” sighs Khushwant Singh.
“You are always tempted to resort to the latest evolution because what you shot before no longer seems as appealing or interesting”
Originally planned for late 2025, the film should finally be screened in theaters in August or September. “I can assure you today that we have succeeded in mastering the technique of making a film by artificial intelligence,” proudly declares the filmmaker.
One of the very first of its kind, which he is convinced will not only revolutionize but also democratize a global industry: “Given the extremely rapid progress of technological advancements, an 18-year-old in a provincial area will soon be able to compete with the biggest studios,” anticipates Khushwant Singh. “Competition will come from all over the world.” (afp/vz)
