Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has made a bold prediction about the future of cinema. He believes that artificial intelligence (AI) will soon create its own stars, potentially making iconic actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan obsolete. Speaking at the WAVES 2025 summit in Mumbai, Kapur said, “Actors will just be actors because AI will create stars.
I can create a star using AI and have my copyright. Very soon, there will be a slew of ideas for AI movies featuring characters developed through AI.”
Kapur envisions a future where filmmakers will have the power to develop and design their own unique on-screen personas through AI. He drew parallels with digital influencers who are already AI-generated and gaining popularity on social platforms.
“Many influencers online today aren’t even real people. If AI can create influencers, why not film stars?” he said.
Kapur’s vision for AI stars
“I don’t need Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan—I can build my own character, my own star.”
Kapur believes that if the AI-generated character is well-crafted and emotionally compelling, the audience will embrace it just like they do with real actors. However, he also cautioned against over-reliance on machines, noting that emotional depth remains a uniquely human trait. “It’s our emotional capability that separates us from AI,” he remarked, stressing that storytelling should still be grounded in human experiences.
Kapur, known for directing critically acclaimed films like Masoom, Bandit Queen, and Mr. India, has been a pioneer in Indian and global cinema. Recently, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, for his contribution to film and the arts.
His views have certainly ignited a debate on what the future holds for traditional cinema and the beloved actors who have been its face for decades. As AI continues to advance, it remains to be seen how it will shape the entertainment industry and the role of human actors in the years to come.
