Dainik Bhaskar, India’s largest-circulated Hindi daily, has started producing AI-generated micro-drama series based on its own news reports. The initiative was disclosed during the company’s July 20 earnings call, where Director Girish Agarwal explained that these dramas are derived strictly from reported journalism and not fiction, and are available on the Dainik Bhaskar app.
The micro-dramas use generative video technology to quickly and cost-effectively transform news stories into short scripted series. Agarwal noted the positive response from readers and emphasized the content’s relevance by basing it solely on factual news. However, the company has not publicly clarified who verifies the facts in these AI-generated dramas, whether viewers are informed about the synthetic nature of the visuals and dialogue, or if synthetic recreations of people featured in the news are used.
This approach marks a novel use of AI in Indian media, blending traditional journalism with synthetic video storytelling. While dramatizing news is not new, using generative AI to produce and distribute such content rapidly and at scale is uncommon. The lack of regulatory requirements in India regarding disclosure or fact verification in AI-generated media raises questions about transparency and authenticity in this emerging format.
The micro-drama series are currently available on the Dainik Bhaskar app and cross-posted to YouTube, expanding their reach. The company’s July 20 earnings call remains the primary source of information on this initiative, with no further public disclosures on editorial oversight or viewer notifications about AI generation.