Since the first look of Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai dropped on April 14, the internet has been ablaze with criticism over a sequence featuring unsettling, AI-generated infants. However, sources close to the production have now confirmed that these digital toddlers were merely a promotional stunt and will not appear in the final theatrical version of the movie.
A “Gimmick” Gone Viral
According to production insiders, the AI sequence—which featured two rendered babies realizing they share the same father—was never part of David Dhawan’s actual film.
“It was purely a gimmick to get people talking,” a source revealed. “The makers wanted a visually arresting way to set up the love triangle without revealing actual footage. It was greenlit for the teaser only. There is no AI in the film.”
Addressing the Backlash
The clarification comes as a response to the “creepy” and “tone-deaf” labels the teaser attracted online. Fans of the veteran director were concerned that his 46th directorial venture was leaning too heavily into bizarre digital trends. Instead, it appears the sequence was the work of a third-party creative agency hired specifically for the launch campaign, independent of the actual filming process.
By all accounts, David Dhawan directed the film in his classic style—relying on actor performances and comedic instinct rather than digital avatars.
Pivoting the Strategy
Following the mixed reception, the production team is reportedly shifting its marketing focus. A proper trailer, putting stars Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde front and center, is expected to be released within the next two weeks. The goal is to move past the viral distraction and showcase the actual chemistry and chaotic humor the film promises.
Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is still on track for its worldwide theatrical release on May 22, 2026. If the source reports are true, the only things “popping” in the theater will be the punchlines, not the AI babies.
