Actor-producer Kunal Kapoor has sparked a lively discussion on the growing role of artificial intelligence in cinema. Sharing his thoughts on X, Kapoor compared the industry's current skepticism toward AI with the resistance that once greeted digital cameras and digital editing.
"A lot of filmmakers say they'll never touch AI. When digital cameras arrived, filmmakers said we'd lose the magic of cinema. When digital editing arrived, editors said we'd lose the craft of cutting film. They were right. Something was lost. And yet more films got made, by more people, than ever before. Today, hardly anyone would want go back to the old way. Efficiency wins more often than nostalgia."
Kapoor's comments touch on a debate that has divided filmmakers worldwide. The shift from film stock to digital technology was initially met with concerns about losing artistic depth and traditional craftsmanship. While some celebrated directors continue to champion older methods, digital tools ultimately transformed production by reducing costs and making filmmaking more accessible.
The actor's perspective is particularly notable given his interest in AI-powered entertainment technology. By comparing AI to previous technological disruptions, Kapoor suggests that the industry may once again be witnessing a change that feels uncomfortable today but could become commonplace tomorrow.
As AI continues to make its way into writing rooms, editing suites, and visual effects pipelines, Kapoor's post has reignited a question that cinema has faced before: can innovation and artistry coexist, or does every technological leap come with a creative trade-off?