Artificial intelligence is subtly transforming the language of cinema, and for filmmakers who strive for grandeur and spectacle, the future unfolds even before the first shot is taken. Actor Rana Daggubati on Monday noted that artificial intelligence is now allowing high-impact filmmakers to virtually preview their films before a single frame is captured, highlighting how the technology is fundamentally changing storytelling from the ground up, PTI reported.
During the India Summit on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence, Rana Daggubati said that AI could “replace us all pretty quickly” when asked about its impact on cinema, ANI reported.
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Here is what Rana Daggubati had to say
“In the world of visual effects, it used to take 3-5 days to make a shot. But now it has come down to just 2-3 hours… Besides, a filmmaker can now watch his film before the shoot actually starts,” he said, as reported by PTI.
However, he highlighted certain qualities and skills that cannot be replaced.
“Storytelling, understanding cultural context and social literacy are such skills,” he said, adding that “the construct of repeatability is now gone, and the key differentiator would be between those creating IP (on AI tools) and those just using it.”
The actor, known for films like Baahubali, Kalki 2898 AD or The Ghazi Attack, added: “Ownership will change dramatically. Previously, only big studios could create vast intellectual property and film universes. Today, this power is shifting to independent directors.”
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“We could be in a phase of extreme change… but will all AI go from here? Not really. But there are pieces of the puzzle that are being taken away,” Daggubati added.
Ashish Kulkarni, founder of Punnaryug Artvision, said that basic skills with reference to creative content will still need to be learned by students.
During the session, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Adobe and NASSCOM for the Future Skills Prime initiative. The session was moderated by Mala Sharma, Global Vice President and General Manager, Adobe, and attended by Abhilasha Gaur, General Manager, IT-ITeS SSC NASSCOM; Saransh Agrawal, Vice President of Learning and Development at Cognizant; and Raj Rishi Singh, CBO and CMO of MakeMyTrip.
Taking place in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, AI Impact Expo 2026 is expected to attract over 2.5 million visitors, including international delegates. The event seeks to foster new collaborations and create business opportunities within the global AI ecosystem.
AI Summit 2026
The summit is considered to be the first major global AI conference held in the Global South, bringing together leaders from 20 countries. Among the participants are Emmanuel Macron, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Antonio Guterres.
Held alongside the summit at the Bharat Mandapam, the Expo acts as a national showcase of AI in action – where policy connects with implementation, innovation scales and technology reaches everyday citizens.
Spanning over 70,000 square meters across 10 arenas, the Expo brings together global technology companies, start-ups, academic institutions, research bodies, line ministries, state governments and international collaborators.
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The event includes 13 country pavilions highlighting international partnerships with nations such as Australia, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Estonia, Tajikistan and various African nations.
Designed for an estimated 2.5 million visitors, the Expo features more than 300 curated exhibition pavilions and live demonstrations, organized around three central themes – People, Planet and Progress.
It also focuses on more than 600 promising start-ups, many of which are developing globally scalable real-world AI solutions that are already deployed.
The sheer scale of the event is further reflected in the more than 500 sessions attended by more than 3,250 distinguished speakers and panelists.
The Impact Summit and Expo, which runs until February 20, highlights New Delhi’s ambition to help shape an AI future that is inclusive, responsible and transformative, in line with the Prime Minister’s broader vision of a sovereign AI designed to serve citizens around the world.
(This is a developing story; check back later for updates)
(With input from agencies)