A new social-media trend is using generative AI to transform modern photographs into portraits inspired by 1980s Bollywood. Instead of applying a simple colour filter, users are recreating clothing, hairstyles, studio settings and cinematic moods from another era.
Users can request sarees, statement jewellery, vintage hairstyles, tucked-in shirts, high-waisted trousers and old magazine-style lighting. Regional influences are also appearing, including Kerala-inspired portraits and Malayalam cinema aesthetics.
The appeal is partly nostalgia and partly participation. One image can inspire friends to create their own versions, helping the trend spread through Stories and other interactive formats. Celebrity participation has added to the attention.
Generative AI can alter the entire scene, not just its colour and texture. Better results usually come from describing the period, wardrobe, background, lighting and film characteristics in detail.
There are limitations. AI may distort fingers, jewellery, clothing patterns or text. People should check images before sharing, avoid uploading sensitive photographs and get permission before using someone else’s image. Most importantly, digitally recreated portraits should be labelled as AI-generated rather than presented as genuine photographs from the 1980s.