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The AI-generated image was sent to Shashi Tharoor by his fans, who used an old photo from his early days at the UN.
Shashi Tharoor admired his younger self. (Photo Credit: Instagram)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor sparked a wave of nostalgia and online commentary after sharing a viral AI-generated image of himself hugging his 22-year-old self. The photograph, part of the viral “Hug My Younger Self” trend created by Google’s Gemini AI tool and the Nano Banana image module, features Tharoor in a nostalgic stance with a young avatar from his early days at the UN.
The AI-generated image was sent to Tharoor by his fans, who used old photos from his early days at the UN to recreate his youthful look.
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In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Tharoor warmly and humorously described the younger man as a combination of “swagger” and a “scraggly beard.” The Congress leader also said that he was “torn between amusement” at his “youthful appearance” and envy for his “younger avatar’s self-assurance”.
What Did Shashi Tharoor Write
“Some fans sent me this AI edit, putting me face-to-face with my 22-year-old self. That’s a generated likeness of me in my first months at the @UN, based on a couple of pix taken during my work for @Refugees,” Tharoor wrote on X.
Although the decades have been kind to him, he added that he would give anything for “this younger chap’s waistline!”
“I find myself torn between envy at this avatar’s swagger and amusement at his scraggly beard. The decades have done me good, I must say. But what I wouldn’t give to have the waistline of this younger chap,” he added.
Social Media Users Complimented Tharoor
Some fans sent me this AI edit, putting me face to face with my 22-year-old self. That’s a generated likeness of me in my first months at the @UN, based on a couple of pix taken during my work for @Refugees. I find myself torn between envy at this avatar’s swagger and amusement… pic.twitter.com/Ywl9JrTdJ4
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 25, 2025
“Sir, you have only grown better,” a social media user wrote.
“At a mere 22, when most of us are still grappling with the vicissitudes of nascent adulthood, you had already embarked upon a peregrination at the United Nations,” a second comment read.
“You look like some English Scientist of the early 18th century,” another comment read.
Someone else wrote, “What a delightful blend of past and present, Shashi Tharoor. Sir! Your youthful swagger and wisdom today truly inspire us all.”
All About ‘The Hug My Younger Self’ Trend
Beyond the humour, Tharoor’s response points to a larger cultural shift where AI technologies are allowing people to connect with and visually revisit their former selves emotionally. The “hug my younger self” trend has gained popularity on social media as users use Gemini to create pictures that inspire introspection, progress, and memories.
This trend, which is driven by Google’s Gemini AI, specifically, its Nano Banana feature, enables users to create profound pictures in which their adult selves embrace their younger selves. These AI-generated images typically evoke sentiments of introspection and self-compassion by appearing like vintage Polaroid photographs.
About the Author
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on what’s creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.
Delhi, India, India
September 25, 2025, 14:42 IST
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