Comedian and actor Munawar Faruqui, promoting his debut web series First Copy in Mumbai on June 21, 2025, sparked a debate by warning that artificial intelligence (AI) could “kill creativity” and render the next generation “lethargic.” In an exclusive interview, he expressed concerns about AI’s growing role in entertainment, arguing it stifles original thinking and promotes dependency, impacting young creators across India’s creative industries.
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AI’s Threat to Creative Hustle
Faruqui, known for winning Bigg Boss 17 and Lock Upp, argued that AI’s ease of generating content—like posters or stories from a single prompt—undermines the creative process. “If AI does all your work, it will make you lethargic,” he told , citing how young creators rely on AI for school projects, limiting their problem-solving skills. “It kills your creativity, and your thinking power is restricted,” he added, emphasizing the loss of effort-driven innovation. Faruqui admitted he avoids AI tools, unfamiliar with their software, and prefers manual creativity despite industry pressures to adapt.
A Contrasting Perspective
First Copy director Farhan P. Zamma offered a counterpoint, suggesting creators must “upgrade with time” to stay relevant. However, Faruqui remained firm, stating, “This is something I don’t want to upgrade. It will affect me if I use it.” His stance resonates with broader debates, as a 2023 Harvard Business Review study outlined scenarios where AI could flood markets with cheap content, potentially sidelining human creatives, though it also noted AI’s potential to augment productivity. Faruqui’s concern aligns with fears of over-reliance, particularly among India’s youth, who form 50% of its 1.4 billion population.
Piracy and Creativity’s Value
Promoting First Copy, a series about 1990s Mumbai’s piracy scene, Faruqui linked AI’s risks to piracy’s harm. He condemned piracy’s financial toll on production houses and urged audiences to support legal viewing to sustain creative industries. His innovative anti-piracy stunt—redirecting pirated links to a message urging legal streaming—earned praise, reinforcing his commitment to protecting creativity.
A Call to Preserve Human Spark
Faruqui’s warning, voiced amid First Copy’s success on Amazon MX Player (trending #1), underscores a critical moment for India’s creative sector. With AI’s market projected to grow at a 28.5% CAGR through 2030, his call to nurture originality over convenience challenges creators to preserve the human spark in storytelling, ensuring the next generation remains vibrant, not lethargic.
-By Manoj H