South Indian 1980s ChatGPT photo trend: Top 5 prompts to turn your photos into retro celebrity looks inspired by Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Sridevi and Shobana

The ChatGPT ’80s photo trend has been gaining attention on social media, with users transforming their photographs to recreate the fashion, hairstyles and photography styles of the decade. The trend has now expanded into regional cinema aesthetics, with users creating images inspired by the look of 1980s South Indian films and their iconic actor-actress pairs.

Users can ask ChatGPT to recreate their photographs as a romantic movie still, studio portrait, wedding photograph, family picture or promotional shot inspired by South Indian cinema of the 1980s. Prompts can include silk sarees, traditional jewellery, vintage shirts, period-appropriate hairstyles, classic South Indian homes, temples, lush outdoor locations and other elements associated with the era.

The prompts can also ask ChatGPT to keep the person's facial features and identity recognisable while recreating the visual style of an 1980s South Indian film, including warm lighting, soft focus, analogue 35mm film grain, slightly faded colours and a nostalgic cinematic look.

ChatGPT ’80s photo trend: Check top 5 prompts

1. Rajinikanth — mass hero look

Prompt: Create a fun 1980s South Indian cinema portrait inspired by Rajinikanth’s iconic screen style of the decade — charismatic expression, confident pose, thick 1980s hairstyle, vintage sunglasses, colourful shirt, slightly exaggerated superstar attitude, warm studio lighting, analogue 35mm film grain and authentic old Tamil movie-poster aesthetics.

2. Kamal Haasan — playful romantic hero

Prompt: Transform the photograph into a playful 1980s South Indian movie portrait inspired by Kamal Haasan’s romantic-comedy roles — expressive eyes, charming smile, stylish period hairstyle, colourful vintage shirt, dramatic but playful pose, soft-focus studio lighting, warm analogue colours and authentic 35mm film texture.

3. Chiranjeevi — energetic Telugu superstar

Prompt: Recreate the photograph as a vibrant 1980s Telugu cinema hero portrait inspired by Chiranjeevi — energetic superstar pose, confident expression, voluminous period hairstyle, tucked-in vintage shirt and trousers, dramatic lighting, colourful background, slight film imperfections and authentic 35mm grain.

4. Sridevi — glamorous 1980s heroine

Prompt: Transform the photograph into a glamorous 1980s South Indian cinema portrait inspired by Sridevi — elegant silk saree, traditional gold jewellery, voluminous 1980s hairstyle, expressive eyes, radiant smile and graceful cinematic pose. Use warm studio lighting, soft focus, slightly saturated vintage colours, analogue 35mm grain and the polished look of an old South Indian film promotional photograph.

5. Shobana — classic Malayalam heroine

Prompt: Turn the photograph into an elegant 1980s Malayalam cinema portrait inspired by Shobana — traditional Kerala saree, classic gold jewellery, natural 1980s hairstyle, understated makeup and a warm, graceful expression. Place her against a vintage Kerala house or lush green backdrop, with soft natural light, muted analogue colours, gentle film grain and authentic 35mm photography.