Retro Bollywood Poster

Nano Banana 2image → image2:3 · 2K

Reference photos: One front-facing portrait. The red saree variant is about styling and texture, and the facial features and bone structure must stay those of the subject.

Restyle the person in the reference image as the heroine of a 1970s Indian film poster, keeping their exact facial identity and bone structure: only the skin finish is stylised into painted gouache, the face shape, eye shape and nose proportions stay as in the reference. Styling: a deep red saree with a plain gold border and no fine embroidery, hair in a centre part with a low bun and two loose strands, a small bindi, gold jhumka earrings, a thin gold bangle set on one wrist; no heavy patterns, no sequins. Pose: standing three quarters toward the camera with one hand lifting the saree edge at the hip, chin lifted, calm confident gaze directly at the lens. Background: a hand-painted backdrop of a monsoon sky over a low hill, painted with visible gouache brush strokes, plus a single marigold garland entering from the upper left corner. Layout: a single word in heavy poster lettering along the top and two abstract letter blocks along the bottom edge, with no other readable text. Treatment: saturated palette limited to deep red, saffron, emerald and gold on a cream ground, visible offset dot pattern, slight registration offset on the red plate, aged cream paper with one crease line across the lower right. Vertical 2:3 framing, poster finish, no muddy browns, no modern photo look, no logos.

gibberish text, long sentences, fine embroidery noise, modern magazine look, dirty brown mixing, changed facial identity, HDR, watermarks

Why this works: The standard variant and the one being searched. If the red gets pushed toward brown, move the palette-limiting sentence earlier in the prompt.

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburstimage → image3:4 · 2K

Reference photos: One portrait; this variant is the most stylised and suits a poster rather than a portrait photo.

Paint the person in the reference image as the hero of a hand-painted 1970s Indian action film poster. Keep the face recognisable: same eye shape and spacing, same face length, same eyebrow angle; the rendering becomes painted with visible brushwork and flat gouache passages rather than a photograph. Composition: a large painted head at the top two thirds, a smaller full figure of the same person below in a dynamic pose, one arm extended as if throwing a punch, and a painted car chase receding into the distance at the lower left. Styling: cream kurta with a plain collar, a saffron scarf flying behind, dusty boots. Background: painted mountains, a dusty road, a low sun rendered as a flat disc, all in flat poster colour with visible strokes. Palette limited to saffron, deep red, emerald, indigo and cream on aged paper; no muddy brown mixing. Layout: one word in a heavy poster face at the top and two abstract letter blocks along the bottom band, no other readable text. Print treatment: visible offset dot pattern across the sky, slight registration offset on the red plate, one vertical crease in the paper, worn edges. Poster finish, painted not photographic, no logos, no watermarks.

photographic realism, gibberish text, clutter of many figures, muddy browns, modern styling, HDR, watermarks

Why this works: The hand-painted variant. The structure of one large head plus a small full figure of the same person is what makes it memorable; do not show more than two figures.

Nano Banana 2image → image1:1 · 2K

Reference photos: One portrait; the festive variant suits a card or a square post, and the peak runs 4-6 weeks before Diwali.

Create a festive Diwali portrait of the person in the reference image in the style of a hand-painted Indian greeting card poster, keeping their exact facial features and proportions. Styling: a deep emerald silk outfit with a plain gold border, a small bindi, gold jhumka earrings, one marigold flower tucked behind the ear; no heavy embroidery. Pose: seated with both hands cupping a small clay oil lamp at chest height, face lit from below by the flame, warm smile directed at the camera. Setting: a marble floor with a rangoli pattern painted in flat colour, five small clay lamps arranged in a shallow arc, one low brass tray with sweets, a blurred doorway behind with a string of marigolds. Lighting: the lamp flame as the main warm light plus a soft ambient fill, gentle warm shadows, no flash. Palette: emerald, saffron, gold and cream on a deep maroon ground. Treatment: painted gouache finish with visible brush strokes and a faint offset dot pattern, aged cream paper border, one small gold leaf ornament drawn flat in the lower right corner. Square 1:1 framing with the figure centred, poster finish, no readable text, no logos, no watermarks.

photographic realism, extra hands, distorted lamp, gibberish text, cluttered ornaments, muddy browns, HDR, watermarks

Why this works: The festive variant. Cupping the oil lamp with warm light coming from below is the core of it; if the hands break down, move the lamp beside the hands and show only the fingers.

Nano Banana 2 Litetext → image16:9 · 1K

A hand-painted 1970s Indian film poster banner with a generic heroine in a deep red saree with a plain gold border, centre-parted hair in a low bun, a small bindi and gold jhumka earrings, standing three quarters toward the camera with one hand lifting the saree edge at the hip, over a painted monsoon sky and a low hill. A second smaller painted figure of the same woman runs along the lower left with a saffron scarf flying behind. Palette limited to deep red, saffron, emerald, gold on a cream ground with no muddy browns. Layout: one word in heavy poster lettering at the top left and two abstract letter blocks along the bottom band, no other readable text. Print treatment: visible offset dot pattern, slight registration offset on the red plate, aged cream paper, one crease line across the right side, worn edges. Flat gouache rendering with visible brush strokes, wide 16:9 framing, poster finish, painted not photographic, no logos, no watermarks.

Why this works: The text-only sample variant and the cheapest option. The wide 16:9 frame works as a website banner sample.