Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Bollywood Stars and Politicians Join Viral 1980s AI Trend
People are using AI tools to make new photos look like they came from the 1980s.
The pictures can resemble old Bollywood posters, family albums or wedding photographs.
AI changes the clothes, hair, lighting, background and colours while trying to keep a person’s face recognizable.
Many Bollywood celebrities shared their own versions online.
Politicians such as Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi and Piyush Goyal also became part of the trend.
Some images use sunglasses, denim, big hairstyles, sarees and film-grain effects.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s image of Narendra Modi appeared to be a real photograph rather than an AI recreation.
Some filmmakers think the trend is only a short-lived fad, but many people continue to enjoy and share it.
AI tools are transforming modern photographs into glamorous 1980s-style portraits shared on Instagram and X.
Bollywood figures including Parineeti Chopra, Raghav Chadha, Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra and Ravi Kishan joined the trend.
Other participants included Shruti Haasan, Abhay Verma, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Ameesha Patel.
Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Piyush Goyal and other Indian politicians also shared or appeared in retro-style images.
Filmmakers Mahesh Bhatt and Ram Gopal Varma criticized the trend, but it continues to spread among public figures and ordinary users.
- Who
- Bollywood celebrities, Indian politicians, journalists, sportspersons and social media users, including Parineeti Chopra, Raghav Chadha, Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi and Piyush Goyal.
- What
- A viral trend uses ChatGPT and other AI image tools to turn contemporary photographs into 1980s-style portraits.
- When
- The trend has spread over the past few days and is currently circulating on social media.
- Where
- Primarily on Instagram and X.
- Why
- Users are combining recognizable personal identities with nostalgic 1980s clothing, photography and Bollywood-inspired aesthetics.
Trend participants and supporters
Trend critics
Cultural appeal
Trend participants and supporters
Participants and users are using the format to experiment with personal identity, nostalgia and Bollywood-inspired visual styles.
Trend critics
Mahesh Bhatt described the trend as a passing fad and questioned the appeal of the 1980s aesthetic.
Entertainment value
Trend participants and supporters
The trend is visually distinctive, easy to recreate and continues to attract celebrities, politicians and ordinary users.
Trend critics
Ram Gopal Varma was dismissive, arguing that smartphones have become a dominant source of entertainment.
- Main tools
- ChatGPT and other image-generation tools
- Platforms
- Instagram and X
- Common styling
- Retro clothing, dramatic hairstyles, aviator sunglasses, warm lighting, muted colours and film grain
- Celebrity participants
- Parineeti Chopra, Raghav Chadha, Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra, Ravi Kishan, Shruti Haasan, Abhay Verma, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Ameesha Patel
- Political participants
- Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Piyush Goyal, Kiren Rijiju, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Anil Deshmukh, Ramdas Athawale and Pankaja Munde
- Narendra Modi image
- The Bharatiya Janata Party posted a vintage-style image that appeared to be an actual photograph rather than an AI recreation
- Criticism
- Mahesh Bhatt called the trend a passing fad, while Ram Gopal Varma questioned the appeal of the decade’s aesthetic
