Hafeez Tahir, the creator of the iconic TV series Ainak Wala Jin, criticised the producers behind the AI-generated film adaptation, which was released in cinemas this July, alleging that his work was used without his permission.
In a video posted to his Instagram, Tahir urged the public to spread awareness about what he described in the caption as a “daylight robbery.”
In the video, he said he created the original concept, title and story for Ainak Wala Jin, directed the series in 1993, and believed that the new AI-generated film stripped away the essence of his original work through AI-generated visuals, music and altered character designs.
“Today I am very angry because my life’s work, Ainak Wala Jin, is being taken and its name is being used in an AI-generated film that has been released in theatres. I’d like to tell you all that this is my idea, my concept, my creation,” he said.
“I am the concept writer. I created the name, I directed it and made a quality serial,” Tahir said, adding that he later sold the rights to a private television channel, which, according to him, has continued to earn millions of views from the series on YouTube.
The veteran creator also alleged that the new film was released without the filmmaker consulting or seeking permission from him. “Neither the filmmaker nor the cinema that released the film sought my permission,” he said.
Tahir further argued that the use of AI undermined the integrity of the original work by altering the characters, voices and music. “To take a series and base it on AI is to ruin an iconic idea. They’ve changed the appearance of the characters and destroyed them,” he said.
The creator added, “My main character, Nastoor Jin, looks like a dacoit here. They have changed the original characters, their voices and replaced them with AI-generated music. In this way, they have ruined such a beautiful idea.”
He concluded by asking, “Now tell me, should we stay quiet or move forward and take legal action?”
Many fans echoed Tahir’s concerns in the comments section of his post, with several criticising the use of AI in creative works.
Others expressed sadness over the controversy. “This series was a huge part of our childhood memories,” one commenter wrote, while another said the news was “so upsetting.”
Originally aired in 1993, Ainak Wala Jin ran for 152 episodes. The fantasy series followed the adventures of Nastoor Jin, played by Shahzad Qaiser, a genie who travels to the human world in search of a cure for his weak eyesight.
