Hafeez Tahir, the writer, director, and concept creator behind the original Ainak Wala Jin television series, has objected to a new AI-generated feature film based on the beloved 1990s show, saying he was not consulted or asked for permission before the project was made. Tahir shared a video on his Instagram account criticizing the film’s director and writer, Farhan Khan, for proceeding without his involvement.
Tahir said Ainak Wala Jin, which aired on PTV from 1993 to 1996, was his original concept, and that he wrote, named, and directed the series himself before handing it over to PTV, which he said has continued generating revenue from the property, including through its YouTube channel. He said neither the filmmaker nor PTV approached him for permission or invited him to be part of the new production, which was released in cinemas on July 24 and has been described on IMDB as one of the first AI-generated feature length films made in Asia.
Tahir raised specific concerns about how AI was used to recreate the show’s characters, saying the appearance and voice of the main character, Nastoor Jin, had been altered significantly, along with changes to the character Hamoon Jadoogar. He also criticized the AI-generated music used in the film, saying the overall production diminished what he described as a well regarded and iconic creative concept. He closed his video by posing a question to his audience about whether he should pursue legal action over the matter.
The dispute highlights broader questions emerging globally around AI-generated content built on existing creative works, particularly when original creators are not consulted or compensated for the use of their concepts and characters. As AI tools make it increasingly feasible to recreate and reinterpret established media properties, cases like this one are likely to become more common, raising unresolved questions around consent, creative ownership, and compensation for original creators whose work forms the basis of new AI generated productions.
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