A wave of nostalgia has taken over social media feeds across Kerala as Malayalam television personalities jump on the viral “ChatGPT ’80s trend”. The viral AI photo movement which uses artificial intelligence image-generation tools to transform contemporary selfies into vintage 1980s portraits, has seen prominent actors, hosts, and reality TV stars showcase retro makeovers complete with bouffant hair, classic sarees, and faded colour tones.
The ChatGPT ’80s AI Trend Explained
The viral wave relies on image generation prompts submitted to AI platforms such as ChatGPT and OpenAI’s DALL-E. Users upload a standard front-facing photograph and prompt the model to preserve their facial structure while adapting the hair, outfit, studio lighting, and background to mimic 1980s photography. The resulting images mimic low-saturation film prints, vintage high-school yearbook photos, or old cinematic portraits, featuring hallmark elements like puffed sleeves, bold patterns, muted studio lighting, and retro accessories. The trend quickly expanded beyond general users, catching the interest of regional celebrities, public figures, and politicians.
Malayalam TV Stars Join ChatGPT ’80s AI
Manju Pathrose
Actress and former Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 2 contestant Manju Pathrose joined the wave by sharing AI-generated portraits of herself styled in traditional 1980s attire. Fans highlighted how well the vintage colour grading and understated styling aligned with the aesthetic of classic Malayalam cinema.
Arya Badai
Television presenter and actress Arya Badai embraced the trend by posting a series of retro-styled portraits featuring herself alongside her daughter. Sharing the images online, Arya lightheartedly noted that she could not let her child think she was out of touch with the latest digital trends.
Aparna Thomas
Digital creator and media personality Aparna Thomas showcased four distinct 1980s avatars. The photos reimagined her in varied retro styling, from classic vintage hairdos to bold period fashion, drawing quick engagement from her followers.
Abhirami Suresh
Singer and television personality Abhirami Suresh participated with an image showing her in a bright patterned shirt paired with classic denim, offering a casual take on the decade’s aesthetic. She captioned her post with a French song reference, adding a musical context to the nostalgic visual.
Pearle Maaney and Srinish Aravind
Celebrity couple Pearle Maaney and Srinish Aravind, who met during the first season of Bigg Boss Malayalam, posted joint AI-generated portraits. Their throwback frames depicted both personalities in coordinated 1980s couple styling, gaining immediate traction from their online fan base.
Jasmin Jaffar
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 6 second runner-up Jasmin Jaffar shared a vintage transformation featuring a silk saree, puff-sleeved blouse, simple bindi, and period-appropriate styling. To complement the aesthetic, Jasmin paired her image upload with the classic 1980s playback song “Mainagan” by S Janaki.