New Delhi: In Pakistan, Spiderman now wears a hijab and Ronaldo sells fruits, all thanks to the creative vision of 20-year-old photographer Saboor Akram. In the last few weeks, Akram started using artificial intelligence-driven software like Midjourney to set international A-listers and celebrities like Deepika Padukone and Lewis Hamilton and Taylor Swift in Lahore, Karachi and other cities in Pakistan. It’s an alternate universe with a desi twist.
One of his most popular ‘creations’ is a fake movie poster, titled Love Across Borders, featuring Shah Rukh Khan in an orange suit and tie in the backdrop of the mountainous terrain of Quetta. Musician Lana Del Rey leaning on a taxi, football icon Lionel Messi posing with goats and a stern-looking Virat Kohli in a pink suit in Peshawar have all elicited reactions from followers all over the world.
“The purpose of the posts is to represent different franchises, concepts, movies and celebrities in the light of my country and culture,” said Akram.
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Inspired by Spiderman
The rise of AI has been met with resistance among artists, singers, actors, photographers and even writers. Akram decided to face his fears.
“Instead of fearing AI, I aimed to showcase to everyone that by being a photographer who has been working for nine years, I can use the same tool and further enhance my craft,” he said.
He first started playing around with the concept of Spiderman on the streets of Lahore while recovering from surgery. The response was overwhelming, leading him to venture into portraying iconic characters like Batman, Joker, and a Pakistani version of the Avengers.
This is not the first project his love for Spiderman has inspired. A year ago, he created a self-funded Spiderman fan-made film. The 20-year-old later expanded his repertoire to include popular web series such as Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and Money Heist. But it’s his series featuring international actors, musicians, and sportspersons—all seamlessly placed in Pakistani cities—that has got him the most fans.
– athletes in 🇵🇰 // #lebronJames #johnCena #RogerFederer pic.twitter.com/darVjqpRNB
— Saboor Akram (@boorayy__) July 6, 2023
The response has been overwhelming; in less than a month his Instagram follower count rose from 30k to over 40K.
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Across borders
Akram’s posts have sparked significant buzz on various social media platforms.
While sharing the AI-generated image of Selena Gomez, in a kurta and dupatta, a Twitter user said she looks like she’s “about to run away with her boyfriend who she met on pubg”.
she looks like shes about to run away with her boyfriend who she met on pubg pic.twitter.com/lQPB3C8I5w
— haseeni (@ahmedrana619) July 7, 2023
Under Akram’s version of a yellow kurta wearing Kylie Jenner, an Instagram user commented that she’s “living her kesariya moment”.
– keeping up with the kardashians in 🇵🇰 // #KimKardashian #KylieJenner #Kardashians pic.twitter.com/f8PBxEWPt6
— Saboor Akram (@boorayy__) July 7, 2023
Akram also has a fanbase in India who follow his work closely.
“I intend to unite and create love across borders regardless of political conflicts,” said Akram. Saboor hopes that “maybe someday his favourite Indian artists will come across his work as well”.
Through these images, he also wants to change the image the world has of Pakistan. “My purpose is and will always be to represent the true beauty of my country and people, hoping that one day we will counter through all the difficulties,” he said.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)