Chetan Hansraj, the Head of AI at Balaji Telefilms, is over the moon as his concept, “Pani,” which he originally penned 30 years ago, has received widespread acclaim as a groundbreaking achievement. It was recently honoured as the Best AI Film at the Jaipur International Film Festival. Additionally, Pani is set to be showcased at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, taking place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi in collaboration with the NFDC. The AI Impact Summit is an initiative led by our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji, along with the government. Pani is written and directed by Chetan Hansraj. It is produced by Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms.
On this wonderful occasion, we at IWMBuzz.com had the pleasure of speaking with Chetan Hansraj, who currently leads the AI for Ektaa Kapoor’s Naagin 7 on Colors TV. An enthusiastic Chetan shares, “It’s amazing to think that I had this vision 30 years ago, when I was just 20. That was the time I first wrote this script. It had the feel of an art film, but no one was willing to back it. Fortunately, Ektaa recognised its potential and encouraged me to pursue it if I was truly passionate. So, Pani has been a labour of love that’s taken 30 years to come to fruition. Thanks to AI, I’ve finally been able to bring my vision to life.”
When discussing how AI can influence filmmaking, Chetan emphasises, “There’s a lot of chatter about how AI will put an end to filmmaking, but I believe it actually empowers creators who might not have the means to realise their ideas otherwise. If you possess creativity and a clear vision, AI equips you to bring your concepts to life. Personally, I found that with AI tools, I could fully identify and express my vision. What would have previously cost between 30 to 40 lakhs has been achieved for under a lakh with my team. This truly shows that the power lies with the creators, rather than just the production budgets.”
On Pani’s recent achievements, Chetan shares, “This has been an incredible experience. My film, Pani, received validation at the Jaipur International Film Festival, and now it’s set to be showcased at the AI Summit. I just found out about it yesterday, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! I’m currently on my way to Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. Watching the film on such a grand screen will surely be a memorable experience. With dignitaries and world leaders attending, I’m really looking forward to it.”
Way to go!!
