A new AI trend is taking social media by storm, with users turning their selfies into vintage Bollywood-style posters using Google Gemini’s Nano Banana image-editing tool. Often called the Vintage Saree AI edits, the trend combines nostalgia, fashion, and artificial intelligence, allowing anyone to appear as a ’90s Bollywood diva in flowing chiffon sarees.

What is Nano Banana?

Nano Banana is an AI image-editing tool embedded in the Google Gemini app. Initially popular for producing 3D figurine-like edits, it has rapidly evolved, with saree edits becoming its signature style. Users can upload a clear solo selfie and instruct the AI to create stylised images featuring sarees, vintage lighting, and cinematic backgrounds.

The tool lets users experiment with saree colours—ranging from vivid reds and blacks to soft pastel and polka-dot whites—and various drape styles, hairstyles, and moods.

How the trend works

Users follow these steps to generate their retro Bollywood-inspired images:

  1. Install the Google Gemini app from the Play Store or App Store and log in using Google credentials.

  • Tap the Banana icon or select “Try Image Editing” to access the Nano Banana tool.

  • Upload a high-quality solo selfie with the face clearly visible and no distracting elements.

  • Copy a popular prompt or create a custom prompt specifying saree colour, drape style, background, lighting, hairstyle, and mood.

  • Submit the prompt, and the AI generates a vintage poster-style image, ready to download and share.

    • Popular prompts

    Creators have used several viral prompts to achieve the perfect retro look:

    • Red Saree: “Transform the subject into a vintage Bollywood heroine in a flowing red chiffon saree, hair styled in soft waves. Background should be romantic and dramatic, with warm tones and golden sunset light.”

  • Black Saree: “Convert this individual into a 90s movie style, a black party saree, grainy vintage image. Lighting is warm with golden sunset hues; her expression is calm, moody, and introspective.”

  • White Polka-Dot Saree: “Create a realistic portrait of a woman in a sheer white polka-dot saree, with a small pink flower behind her ear, soft calm expression, cinematic profile shadow.”

    • Why it’s trending

    The combination of nostalgia for Bollywood’s golden era, customisable aesthetics, and AI-powered photo enhancement has captured the imagination of users worldwide. Many have shared their images on social media platforms, making the edits a viral phenomenon.

    This trend also highlights how AI tools like Nano Banana are bridging creative expression and technology, letting anyone create professional-quality retro artwork without traditional design skills.