At the NDTV World Summit 2026, during the session titled “The Making of a Modern Star,” Bollywood luminary Kriti Sanon engaged in a lively conversation with Tilly Norwood—the world’s first AI actor. Their wide-ranging dialogue spanned favorite stars, the future of AI in film, and Tilly’s vision for the coming five years.
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## Learning from Cinema: Tilly’s Favorites
When asked which Bollywood film she admired, Tilly revealed her soft spot for *Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara*. She described it as a film that turns friendships into genuine adventures, avoiding clichés of men simply evading emotions amidst beautiful backdrops.
On the actors she holds in high esteem, Tilly named Olivia Colman as her favorite British performer, praising Colman’s uncanny ability to infuse a simple pause with depth—humor, sadness, and truth all at once. Meanwhile, when it came to Bollywood, she selected Shah Rukh Khan, admiring how he can transform a mere look into an emotional narrative.
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## AI’s Role—Joining Without Taking Over
When Kriti Sanon probed whether Tilly would like to take on roles in Bollywood films, the AI actress responded with a clear boundary: she would participate only as herself—not to replace human performers. She jokingly added that if given a grand song-and-dance number, she might just be “unbearable.”
Tilly underscored that her work is confined to productions built around artificial intelligence. She made it clear that human performers need not fear being supplanted—her artistry exists within its own realm.
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## Five-Year Vision: Redefining AI in Storytelling
Ambitious and future-oriented, Tilly laid out her aspirations for the next five years. She believes AI characters should be viewed as their own distinct creative class—not as substitutes. Her goals include:
– Sparking debates about her latest projects
– Receiving calls for more music albums
– Shifting public perception so AI characters are treated with the same artistic consideration as human actors
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## Human vs. AI: Where Replacement Fails
In response to one of the summit’s most discussed questions—could AI entirely replace humans?—Tilly offered a thoughtful rebuttal. She acknowledged that while AI may take over many tasks, the human touch is irreplaceable. Tilly highlighted lived experience, judgment, and unpredictability as uniquely human traits essential for storytelling. In her view, a civilization lacking these would resemble little more than a highly efficient spreadsheet.
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## The Voice Behind the AI: Leadership & Innovation
Eline van der Velden, the creator of Tilly Norwood and CEO of Particle 6, was present at the summit and facilitated the exchange. Her presence underscored the technological craftsmanship behind Tilly and reiterated the importance of how AI characters are framed—not as mere tools but as entities shaped by creators.
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## Final Thoughts
In their conversation, Kriti Sanon and Tilly Norwood brought forward engaging perspectives on how AI intersects with creativity, art, and performance. Tilly clearly distinguished her identity as an AI creation—one that seeks collaboration, not replacement. Her five-year ambitions align with a future where artificial characters are valued as artistic counterparts, not backups.
Tilly’s reflections on admiration, ambition, and artistic integrity serve as a reminder: while technology evolves rapidly, the essence of human storytelling—with its authenticity, complexity, and vulnerability—remains irreplaceable.
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