Television producer Ekta Kapoor is facing sharp online criticism after the latest episode of the long-running serial 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' featured an AI-generated depiction of Lord Krishna, drawing widespread mockery and debate over the use of artificial intelligence in Indian television storytelling. The episode, which aired around 4 July 2025, showed the AI-rendered deity appearing before Smriti Irani's iconic character Tulsi inside a prison sequence.

The Scene That Sparked the Controversy

The sequence shows Tulsi, dressed in a white prison sari, standing behind bars as an AI-generated Lord Krishna materialises before her, apparently offering guidance and reassurance. The visuals quickly spread across social media platform X, with users sharing clips, memes, and pointed reactions about the quality and appropriateness of the AI rendering.

The scene follows a dramatic story arc in recent episodes in which Tulsi was depicted shooting her own grandson, Parth, after he allegedly attempted to sexually assault his wife — a plotline that had already generated significant viewer discussion.

Social Media Reacts

Criticism on X ranged from sarcastic to blunt. One user wrote, 'Someone please cancel Ekta Kapoor's AI subscription b/c she ain't stopping.' Another remarked on the visual quality, writing, 'The quality of this clip feels like she is not even paying for her AI tool and using it for free.' A third user quipped, 'Krishna Bhagwan Hin-English bol rhe hn,' pointing to the deity speaking in a mix of Hindi and English, while another joked, 'Why jail and not karagaar? Dialogue bhi AI se likhwa leti.'

Several users also questioned the creative choices behind the dialogue, with one post reading, ''Paisa jail mein hua tha' — god who is writing these dialogues?' The hashtag and related clips trended on X, with many calling for the show's production standards to be reconsidered.

The Show's 26th Anniversary

The controversy coincided with a milestone: on 4 July 2025, 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' marked its 26th anniversary on Indian television. Ekta Kapoor celebrated the occasion by sharing a video montage on her social media account, writing: '26 years ago a show came that changed my life. Thank you Sameer sir, Thank you Star Plus, thank you Balaji team, thank you Tanu, thank you Smriti, thank you to all the actors, and of-course above all thank you to the writers and the team who constantly work at making it what it is. Jai Mata Di.'

Smriti Irani reshared Kapoor's post, adding: 'A lifetime of memories @ektarkapoor. Gratitude towards all who made this 26 year journey possible.'

Broader Questions on AI in Indian Television

Beyond the memes, a section of viewers raised more substantive concerns about the growing use of AI-generated visuals in mainstream Indian television. Critics argue that deploying AI to depict religious figures carries particular cultural sensitivity, and that the current quality of AI tools in production pipelines falls short of the reverence audiences expect. Notably, this is not the first time an Indian entertainment production has faced pushback over AI visuals, but the scale of the reaction — given the show's iconic status — makes this episode a flashpoint in a wider industry conversation.

Whether Balaji Telefilms or Star Plus will respond to the criticism with a statement or production change remains to be seen.