10 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : The latest AI-generated photo trend taking social media by storm has taken a nostalgic turn, with people reimagining themselves in the style of the 1980s. The trend has now caught the attention of Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Kiren Rijiju, whose retro-style AI images have sparked reactions online.
Piyush Goyal Embraces the 80s Look
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal joined the viral trend by sharing an AI-generated image that gives him the appearance of a classic 1980s Bollywood hero.
The image features period-inspired clothing, hairstyle, moustache and a vintage cinematic atmosphere. Social media users quickly reacted to the transformation, with some comparing his appearance to a Hindi film hero.
Kiren Rijiju Joins the Viral Trend
Union minister Kiren Rijiju has also embraced the retro AI wave, sharing a digitally transformed version of himself in an unmistakably 1980s-inspired style.
His participation has added a political twist to what began largely as a celebrity and social-media fashion trend.
What Is the AI 80s Photo Trend?
The trend involves using AI image-generation tools to transform a modern photograph into an image resembling a photograph from the 1980s.
Users generally preserve the person’s recognisable facial features while changing elements such as clothing, hairstyle, accessories, lighting, background and photographic texture.
The result is designed to resemble an old Bollywood portrait, family album photograph, magazine cover or film still.
Retro Bollywood Aesthetic Goes Viral
The visual style typically includes voluminous hairstyles, high-waisted trousers, printed shirts, statement jewellery, thick moustaches, warm lighting, faded colours and analogue film grain.
These elements help recreate the distinctive look associated with Indian cinema and photography from the decade.
Celebrities Are Also Joining In
The trend has moved well beyond politicians.
Several celebrities, including Tamannaah Bhatia, Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra and Malayalam television personalities, have shared AI-generated retro transformations.
Kiara and Sidharth’s recreation of an old-school Bollywood couple also prompted fans to compare their virtual appearance with popular film pairings from earlier decades.
Why the Trend Is Attracting Attention
The popularity of the trend combines two major social-media interests: AI-generated imagery and nostalgia.
Instead of simply creating futuristic or fantastical images, users are using AI to imagine how they—or celebrities and public figures—might have looked in another era.
The familiar visual language of old photographs makes the transformations particularly shareable.
AI Turns Modern Photos Into Vintage Portraits
Users can create different versions of the same photograph by specifying the desired setting.
Some popular variations include an 80s Bollywood studio portrait, vintage wedding photograph, old family-album picture, retro magazine cover or classic film-style portrait.
A New Form of Digital Nostalgia
The trend shows how generative AI is increasingly being used not only for entertainment but also to recreate cultural and fashion aesthetics from previous decades.
For Indian users, the 1980s provide a particularly recognisable visual identity because of the era’s distinctive Bollywood fashion, hairstyles, colours and photographic styles.
AI Images Are Not Historical Photographs
Despite their realistic appearance, these images are AI-generated recreations rather than genuine photographs from the 1980s.
Experts and guides around the trend have also highlighted the need to check AI-generated images for visual errors and avoid presenting digitally created photographs as authentic historical material.
From Celebrities to Politicians
With Piyush Goyal and Kiren Rijiju joining the trend, the 80s AI makeover has expanded into the world of Indian politics.