Mumbai: A series of AI-generated images imagining Harry Potter as a Bollywood film has taken social media by storm.
The creative recasting features several Indian stars stepping into legendary Hogwarts roles, but it is Saif Ali Khan who has grabbed maximum attention.
On Monday, digital creator Kronix98700 unveiled an AI-generated video that reimagined the Harry Potter universe with a Bollywood cast. The creative fan edit featured Kartik Aaryan as Harry Potter, Kriti Sanon as Hermione Granger, Varun Dhawan as Ron Weasley and Saif Ali Khan as the enigmatic Severus Snape.
Ranbir Kapoor stepped into the role of Draco Malfoy, while veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah was envisioned as Albus Dumbledore.
The video also cast Boman Irani as Rubeus Hagrid, Sanjay Dutt as Lord Voldemort, Kangana Ranaut as Bellatrix Lestrange, and Ratna Pathak Shah as Minerva McGonagall.
Other notable choices included Arjun Rampal as Sirius Black, Jackie Shroff as Mad-Eye Moody, Akshaye Khanna as Lucius Malfoy, Rajkummar Rao as Neville Longbottom, Ananya Panday as Ginny Weasley, Vidya Balan as Dolores Umbridge, and Manoj Bajpayee as Remus Lupin.
The unique crossover delighted both Harry Potter enthusiasts and Bollywood fans, who flooded social media with praise for the imaginative casting choices.
One fan commented, ” Saif Ali Khan is looking more Snape than the real one.”
Another quipped, “Saif is more snape than snape.”
One person posted, “Saif & Kangana Spot On.”
Another fan wrote, “Suggest Saif Ali Khan to new HBO makers for Snape role….he is perfect …..also Kangna as Bellatrix, Arjun Rampal as sirius is also good.” Another wrote, “Professor Snape ❌ Professor Saif ✔”
However, some were not very happy with Kartik as Harry, Kriti as Hermoine and Varun as Ron and wrote, “Kartik aryan as Harry is the worst choice ever !!”
Another wrote, “Except for Harry and Ron, all look good.”
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The Harry Potter franchise, created by author J. K. Rowling, remains one of the most beloved fantasy series in the world.
Released between 2001 and 2011, the film series starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in the lead roles and became one of the highest-grossing franchises in cinema history.
The movies introduced audiences to unforgettable characters such as Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, and many others.
The wizarding world is now set to return to screens through HBO’s television adaptation of the books.
