Instagram is buzzing with the 80s AI trend, as users share photos in retro stylesLast updated: September 11, 2026 | 12:094 MIN READIn this combo photo: Sashi Tharoor, Piyush Goyal, Kiara Advani-Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra-Raghav Chadha, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Trisha Krishnan embrace the viral 80s AI trend.Dubai: The 1980s are making a comeback on social media, with Indian celebrities and politicians embracing AI-generated portraits inspired by the decade. From retro fashion and hairstyles to warm tones, studio backdrops and film grain, the trend gives modern photographs a distinctly vintage look.Here are some of the prominent Indian names joining the nostalgia wave:1. Piyush Goyal — PoliticianUnion Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was among the prominent political figures to join the viral trend. His AI-generated portrait shows him in a grey suit, white shirt and aviator sunglasses, with sepia tones and film grain creating an authentic 1980s studio-photo feel. He captioned the post: “Vibing to the 80s trend.”2. Shashi Tharoor — PoliticianCongress MP Shashi Tharoor took a different approach. Rather than generating an AI image, he shared genuine photographs from the 1980s, including pictures with his sons, Ishaan and Kanishk. He jokingly said he would join the trend “the old-fashioned way”.3. Kiren Rijiju — PoliticianUnion Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju first shared an AI-generated 1980s-style image of himself wearing sunglasses, a blazer and an open shirt beside a car. He later posted a real photograph of himself from the 1980s, telling his followers it was “No AI & No ChatGPT”.4. Himanta Biswa Sarma — PoliticianAssam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also embraced the nostalgia wave with an AI-generated retro portrait. He joked about joining the trend, giving his social-media followers a glimpse of his imagined 1980s persona.5. Chirag Paswan — PoliticianUnion Minister Chirag Paswan joined several political figures taking part in the viral 1980s AI trend, sharing an AI-generated version of himself styled as a retro portrait. His participation added another prominent political face to the social-media craze.6. Parineeti Chopra- Raghav Chadha- Bollywood/PoliticianParineeti Chopra has also joined the 1980s-inspired trend. She and her husband Raghav Chadha shared retro-themed images, combining the nostalgic fashion and visual style of the era with today's AI-powered image generation7. Sidharth Malhotra-Kiara Advani — BollywoodSidharth Malhotra joined Kiara Advani in embracing the vintage aesthetic. Their retro images recreate the styling associated with old Indian film portraits, helping fuel the trend among Bollywood fans.8. Trisha Krishnan — South Indian cinemaTrisha Krishnan is another major Indian film star associated with the trend. Her inclusion gives the gallery stronger representation from South Indian cinema as the AI nostalgia craze spreads across the country.9. Samantha Ruth Prabhu — South Indian cinemaSamantha Ruth Prabhu has also featured among the celebrities embracing the 1980s-inspired AI aesthetic. Her participation highlights how the trend has crossed language and regional film industries.10. Dipika Kakar-Shoaib Ibrahim- popular Indian television actorsHow the AI 80s photo trend worksThe viral AI 80s photo trend is giving social media users a nostalgic way to reimagine their modern pictures. The process is simple: upload a clear photo to an AI image generator and ask it to recreate the image as if it were photographed in the 1980s.Users can specify details such as hairstyles, clothing, accessories, poses, backgrounds and lighting while asking the tool to keep their facial features recognisable. For an Indian 80s look, prompts can include colourful sarees, statement jewellery, big hairstyles, moustaches, wide-collared shirts, high-waisted trousers and retro sunglasses.Adding a vintage studio backdrop, warm lighting, faded colours, film grain and slight imperfections can make the result feel more authentic.Quick tips for better results:Use a clear, well-lit photo with the face visible.Mention the exact 1980s style you want.Ask AI to preserve facial features and identity.Add details about clothes, hair, lighting and background.Try different prompts and refine the result if needed.Check the final image for any distortion in hands, jewellery, or facial details before sharing.Also In This PackageDevadasan K P is the Chief Visual Editor at Gulf News, bringing more than 27 years of experience in photojournalism to the role. He leads the Visual desk with precision, speed, and a strong editorial instinct.