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Court Kacheri actor Ashish Verma on AI in Cinema: "Storytelling should be done by humans, for humans" | Exclusive

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  Published in Humor and Quirks on Thursday, September 25th 2025 at 9:55 GMT by moneycontrol.com
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AI in Cinema: A Voice from the Set – Ashish Verma on Why Storytelling Must Stay Human

In a rare, “exclusive” interview on MoneyControl, veteran character actor Ashish Verma, best known for his nuanced performances in Telugu‑Tamil cinema, takes a stand on a topic that is sparking debates across the film‑making world: the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in cinema. Speaking about his recent work in the courtroom drama Court Kacheri, Verma shares a perspective that underscores a key truth he feels is at risk – storytelling should remain a human endeavour, crafted “by humans, for humans.”

Who is Ashish Verma?

Verma, whose filmography spans more than 30 years, is celebrated for his ability to imbue seemingly minor characters with depth. He first rose to prominence in the 1990s with roles in Madhulaya and Samaras, and his recent turn in Court Kacheri—a gripping courtroom drama that explores the intersection of law and morality—has earned him critical acclaim. His work has earned him a reputation for being a “storyteller’s storyteller,” a phrase that resonates with his stance on AI’s place in cinema.

The AI Wave in Film

The MoneyControl article begins by situating Verma’s comments within the broader context of AI’s explosive growth. Platforms such as ChatGPT, DALL‑E 2, and Midjourney now generate dialogue, plot outlines, and even visual concepts at a fraction of the time it takes human writers and designers. The piece cites examples where AI has produced “scripts with generic tropes,” “CGI with uncanny valley glitches,” and “voice‑over narration that lacks emotional resonance.”

The article links to a separate MoneyControl feature on “AI in Entertainment,” which details how streaming giants and indie producers are piloting AI‑assisted scripts and automated post‑production tools. Verma’s comments are contextualized against these developments, emphasizing the speed and scale at which AI is entering every stage of the cinematic pipeline.

Verma’s Take: Humans at the Helm

When asked whether AI can replace writers or directors, Verma offers a balanced view. “AI is a tool, not a replacement,” he says. “It can suggest an opening scene or generate a list of potential conflict points, but it doesn’t understand the cultural nuances or emotional arcs that a human writer grasps.”

He recalls an early pilot where a production team used an AI script‑generation tool to draft the opening of Court Kacheri. The tool produced a “generic, one‑size‑fits‑all courtroom scenario” that Verma and his co‑actors found lacking. “The AI didn’t know that our courtroom culture has a particular way of addressing witnesses, or that the legal jargon we use carries a specific emotional weight,” he explains.

Verma stresses that storytelling, at its core, is a human conversation—a dialogue between writer, director, actors, and audience. He argues that while AI can help with logistics—budget tracking, shot‑list optimisation, even visual effects—it can’t replace the “human intuition” required to build a narrative that resonates.

Ethical and Economic Concerns

The article dives into the economic ripple effects of AI, drawing attention to the potential displacement of writers, assistant directors, and even set designers. Verma cautions, “If AI can write a script in minutes, what incentive do writers have to develop a character arc over months of research and drafts?” He acknowledges that some small‑budget filmmakers are already turning to AI to save costs, but he argues that this trend could erode the quality of regional cinema.

Verma also highlights ethical concerns. He points out that AI‑generated content may sometimes incorporate copyrighted material or cultural references without proper attribution, potentially infringing on intellectual‑property laws. The MoneyControl article links to a legal overview of “AI‑generated content and copyright,” underscoring the urgency for clearer regulatory frameworks.

Industry Voices: A Spectrum of Responses

While Verma champions human storytelling, the article quotes several other industry professionals who see AI as an enabler rather than a threat. A senior editor at a production house mentions that AI’s rapid scene‑generation capability can accelerate the pre‑production phase, freeing creative teams to focus on refining character dynamics. A cinematographer notes that AI‑assisted color grading has improved consistency across shoots.

However, a screenwriter interviewed for the feature expresses worry over “AI as a gatekeeper.” “We’re already seeing tools that auto‑correct dialogue to ‘sound more professional,’ but that’s also homogenising the voices in our cinema,” he laments.

Recommendations for a Human‑Centred Future

The MoneyControl article concludes with a set of practical recommendations, many of them echoing Verma’s points:

1. AI as a Collaborative Tool – Use AI for technical support (e.g., storyboard generation, lighting simulations) but keep narrative decisions in the hands of writers and directors.

2. Skill Development – Provide training for writers and editors on how to effectively collaborate with AI systems, ensuring they can steer the output toward a human‑centric vision.

3. Regulatory Oversight – Advocate for guidelines that require transparency about AI usage in scripts and visual effects, especially for content aimed at children.

4. Preserve Cultural Nuance – Ensure that AI tools are trained on culturally diverse datasets so that they can capture local idioms, dialects, and storytelling traditions.

Verma concludes, “Storytelling is an art of empathy. No algorithm can feel what it is telling us. That’s why the audience deserves a story that’s truly human.”

Final Thoughts

Ashish Verma’s interview serves as a clarion call to the film industry: as AI technologies continue to infiltrate the creative process, the essence of cinema—human connection, cultural specificity, emotional truth—must not be lost. By embracing AI as a tool rather than a substitute, the industry can continue to push creative boundaries while staying rooted in the human stories that first made cinema such a powerful medium.

The MoneyControl article, enriched with links to related features on AI in entertainment and legal implications, invites readers to reflect on a future where technology and humanity coexist on the silver screen, each amplifying the other’s strengths.