Veteran filmmaker David Dhawan has responded to the backlash surrounding the teaser of his upcoming film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, which faced heavy trolling online for its use of talking “AI babies.” The film is headlined by his son Varun Dhawan.
Released on April 14, the teaser features two AI-generated toddlers having a conversation about their unusual family dynamic. In the clip, they humorously point out that while their mothers may be different, their father, Jass, played by Varun Dhawan, is the same.
The female leads include Mrunal Thakur as Baani and Pooja Hegde as Preet, setting up a quirky, controversial premise that has sparked debate among viewers.
Responding to the criticism, David Dhawan dismissed the concerns and clarified that the teaser does not reflect the actual film. Speaking to ANI, he said, “AI hai hee nahin picture mein… Kya karein kuch alag karein, to banake dekha humne. Theek laga. Kahani bhi ye nahin hai. (There is no AI in the film. We wanted to do something different. We thought it looked ok. The story is also different) It’s just a teaser. You’ll get to know when the songs will come. The picture has got nothing to do (with AI).”
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On his film ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai,’ Film director David Dhawan says, “… AI has not been used in the film at all… It has only been used in the teaser…”
On working with his son and actor Varun Dhawan, he says, “While working, I don’t… pic.twitter.com/Zn0IkewDeY
— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2026
David Dhawan hints at possible retirement
In a heartfelt and candid moment, David Dhawan hinted that Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai could mark the end of his long directing journey. Reflecting on his future, he said, “I don’t think I should do more. This might be my last film… after this, I’ll just be Varun’s father,” subtly pointing to ongoing health concerns.
Dhawan also opened up about a difficult phase during the film’s shoot, recalling how Varun Dhawan stood by him during a health scare. He shared, “I was very unwell during the shooting of this film. Varun took great care of me, he had all doctors’ numbers, stayed in touch with them, and was always there. He’s a complete family man,”highlighting the strong bond between father and son.
With a career spanning over three decades and more than 45 films, Dhawan expressed a sense of fulfilment, having collaborated with some of the biggest stars in the industry, including Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Govinda, and Salman Khan. He also acknowledged the influence of his mentor, Manmohan Desai, crediting him for shaping his signature style of mass entertainers.
His upcoming movie Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai will be released on May 22.
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