Jaipur— September 16, 2025. A new social media phenomenon known as the “Nano Banana” trend is sweeping across India, blending pop culture, artificial intelligence and political branding. Originating from Google’s Gemini AI tools, the trend allows users to generate stylized portraits and miniature “figurine” avatars of themselves. It has quickly spread among influencers, celebrities, and even high-profile politicians.

The craze began with Gemini AI Studio’s “Nano Banana” prompts, which let users transform photos into retro-styled saree portraits, toy-like avatars, or Bollywood-inspired scenes. Millions of Indians on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook have shared these images over the past weeks.

What makes this wave stand out is the political participation. In Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and several other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers have posted their own “Nano Banana” avatars. Opposition figures have followed suit, making the AI filter a bipartisan online fad.

“People are enjoying the creativity, but for politicians it’s also about appearing relatable and tech-savvy,” says social media analyst Rhea Kapoor. “It’s a way to engage younger voters and stay part of the digital conversation.”

Yet alongside the fun, privacy advocates are sounding alarms. Law enforcement officials, including IPS officer V. C. Sajjanar, have issued public warnings about uploading personal photos to unauthorized apps or websites mimicking Gemini AI. The fear is that sensitive biometric data could be harvested or repurposed.

Cases of “creepy” or inaccurate edits have already surfaced. One viral post showed a woman whose AI portrait mysteriously revealed a mole not visible in the original photo, sparking fears about data inference and manipulation. Cybersecurity experts emphasize that even legitimate AI tools embed watermarks and metadata, but once images circulate on third-party sites, control may be lost.

Despite the concerns, the “Nano Banana” trend shows no sign of slowing. Google’s Gemini app has surged to the top of India’s download charts, buoyed by millions of AI edits per day. Influencers say the combination of nostalgia (retro Bollywood, traditional sarees) and novelty (toy-style avatars) makes it irresistible.

For now, the phenomenon encapsulates India’s fascination with technology-driven self-expression — and its unease about how far artificial intelligence can go. Whether “Nano Banana” becomes a case study in digital creativity or a cautionary tale about privacy will depend on how quickly users, companies, and regulators respond.