12 Nano Banana Prompts to Convert Your Photos into Retro Images

In this fast-paced life, we often reminisce about the era gone by. The golden days had their own, serene style of lifestyle and fashion that still, for the most part, beats what we have today. While we cannot go back in time as much as we wish to, AI tools today provide a unique way of reliving those days. With the right instructions, new AI image generators like Google’s Nano Banana can portray us living the retro life we miss. So, seeing yourself as a 70s Bollywood superstar or a casual everyday hero from the past is now just a prompt away.

In this blog, we will explore new and exciting ways to turn your photos into retro images with various settings, looks, and aesthetics. Simply follow the instructions here and bring your 1970s superstar version to life. But before that, a little about the tool we will be using – aka Nano Banana.

What is Nano Banana?

Nano Banana, also known as Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, is Google’s cutting-edge image generation model. Ever since its launch in July, it has been going viral for its abilities beyond generating sleek, modern pictures. The AI can recreate styles, moods, even eras, basically edit your photos beyond what was ever possible before.

By extension of this, it is capable of transforming 2D images into richly detailed visuals by analysing lighting, texture, pose, contours, and more. For a Nano Banana Retro Image, it means you can dial up grain, mood-lighting, colour palettes, and visual effects that mimic an old-school film. Meaning, you can bring the classic Bollywood style – warm tones, dramatic shadows, slight film grain, saturated colours – to any of your photos now.

How Does It Work?

Nano Banana AI relies on a mix of computer vision, style transfer, and neural rendering to recreate the retro vibe from your photos. Here’s what happens:

• Your uploaded image is analysed with facial and object detection to identify key details like expressions, contours, and background.
• Style transfer models step in, mapping iconic Bollywood retro elements like grainy film textures, oversaturated colours, and dramatic lighting.
• Neural rendering refines the output, adding subtle noise, depth shadows, and colour grading that mimic 1970s photography and style.
• The final render is generated as a polished retro-styled frame, complete with the visual quirks that make it look straight out of Bollywood’s golden era.

The result is a Nano Banana Retro Image that feels authentic, nostalgic, and instantly recognisable, perfect for sharing on social media or even turning into a poster.

Prompts to Create Retro Images

Here is a selection of carefully curated prompts to deliver the ideal retro based on your photo through Nano Banana. Go ahead, give them a try, and let us know which one you liked the best.

Here are the reference images we used for men’s and women’s looks.

For Women:

For Men:

Prompts for Women

1. Bollywood-retro Look

Prompt:

Create a full-length photorealistic image of the uploaded person as a 1970s Bollywood superstar. Scene: outside a Mumbai cinema hall during a film premiere, marquee glowing in neon, vintage Bollywood posters on the walls. The subject is styled in Western-inspired Bollywood glamour of the 1970s, a shimmering sequined evening gown or satin jumpsuit with flared bottoms, a feather boa or faux fur stole draped over the shoulders, and platform heels. Accessories include oversized tinted sunglasses, chunky jewellery, and a clutch bag. Hair styled in voluminous waves or a glamorous blow-dry, with bold eyeliner and glossy lipstick completing the look. Surround them with flashing cameras, paparazzi holding vintage film cameras, and a crowd of fans reaching out for autographs. Add authentic 1970s colour grading (warm tones, film grain, cinematic contrast). Capture the aura of a confident, glamorous star making a grand entrance – charismatic, stylish, and larger-than-life.

Output:

2. Moody Studio Portrait

Prompt:

This is a photo of me. Craft a moody studio portrait of the uploaded person bathed in a golden-orange spotlight that creates a glowing circular halo behind them on the wall. The warm light should sculpt the face and upper body with soft, sunset-like tones while casting a strong head shadow to the right. Style the person.

Output:

3. Paris Night-Time Portrait

Prompt:

Create an ultra-realistic night-time portrait from this photo, standing near the Arc de Triomphe at Place Charles de Gaulle in Paris.

Background: The Arc de Triomphe is fully visible and brightly illuminated in the center of the frame, with deep shadows and warm street lights glowing softly in the background. The classic ‘Place Charles de Gaulle’ street sign is clearly visible on the ornate lamppost to the right side of the subject.
Lighting & Color: Maintain the warm, ambient nighttime lighting with subtle yellow-orange glows from the streetlights. Capture the same soft shadows and realistic noise/grain present in the original image. Apply similar color grading – warm highlights, deep shadows, and slightly muted tones to evoke a cinematic, moody feel.

Pose & Angle: The subject is facing left, head tilted upward at a ~45-degree angle, with eyes closed and a serene, introspective expression. The camera angle is slightly low and tilted upward, capturing the chest-up view in a three-quarter profile from the left side. The pose must be relaxed, with hands in jacket pockets, shoulders naturally slouched, conveying a quiet, reflective mood.

Outfit: Dress the subject in a black leather jacket layered over a red textured sweater, with the lower portion of blue jeans slightly visible. Keep the outfit textures and folds consistent with real fabric physics under the lighting conditions.

Output:

4. Black Saree Dapper

Prompt:

Make a 4K HD, realistic, and stunning portrait using this image. Show long, dark, wavy hair cascading over shoulders. Attire – a translucent, elegant black saree draped over one shoulder, revealing a fitted blouse underneath. White flowers are tucked behind her right ear. She is looking slightly to her right, with a soft, serene expression.

The background is a plain, warm-toned wall, illuminated by a warm light source from the right, creating a distinct, soft-edged shadow of her profile and hair on the wall behind her. The overall mood is retro and artistic.

Output:

5. The Golden Glow Portrait

Prompt:

Create a retro, vintage, grainy but bright image of the reference picture, but draped in a perfect beige-colour, Pinterest-y aesthetic retro saree. It must feel like a 90s movie, brown hair, baddie with a small flower tucked visibly into her wavy hair, and a romantic, windy environment. The girl is standing against a solid wall, deep shadows and contrast drama, creating a mysterious and artistic atmosphere where the lighting is warm with the golden tones of evoking a sunset or golden hour glow. The background is minimalist and slightly textured; the expression on her face is moody, calm, yet happy and introspective.

Output:

6. Black and White Portrait

Prompt:

Make an epic black and white close-up portrait of the uploaded pic with wet hair and water droplets on my face and shoulders. Strong dramatic lighting, sharp facial features, glossy lips, piercing eyes, and realistic skin texture. High contrast, studio shot, hyper-realistic, cinematic look, 4K detail using this picture.

Output:

Prompts for Men

1. The Retro-Bollywood Look

Prompt:

Create a full-length photorealistic image of the uploaded person as a 1970s Bollywood superstar. Scene: outside a Mumbai cinema hall during a film premiere, with neon lights marquee, and vintage Bollywood posters on the walls. Style the subject in classic 70s hero fashion — a sharply tailored wide-collared suit with flared trousers, or a silk shirt left slightly unbuttoned paired with a patterned blazer, leather belt, and polished shoes. Accessories include aviator sunglasses, a silk scarf draped casually, or a gold chain for added flair. Hair styled in the signature retro look — side-parted, voluminous, or wavy — with a confident, expressive moustache if desired. Surround the subject with paparazzi holding vintage film cameras, bright flashbulbs, and enthusiastic fans reaching for autographs. Apply warm Eastmancolor tones, soft contrast, visible grain, and dramatic star lighting. Pose the subject mid-stride on the red carpet, waving with effortless charm, radiating the aura of a Bollywood superstar.

Output:

2. The Smoke Show

Prompt:

Hands in Pockets – Relaxed Authority

A hyper-realistic cinematic editorial portrait of the uploaded person (preserve face 100%). He stands tall in a dark, moody studio, surrounded by soft, drifting smoke under a dramatic spotlight.

Outfit: Oversized slate-blue luxury suit with wide-leg trousers, paired with a slightly unbuttoned white silk shirt. Both hands tucked casually in pockets, shoulders relaxed, confident expression, head tilted slightly upward.

Output:

3. The Red-Rose Killer

Prompt:

Create a hyper-realistic, editorial-style portrait of the man in the image with a dark, alluring aesthetic. He has tousled, slightly wavy black hair that falls over his forehead, framing his face. His expression is serious and intense, with dark, soulful eyes. He wears a sleek black suit over a deep red, partially unbuttoned dress shirt that reveals an intricate, full chest and neck tattoo featuring symmetrical, detailed designs and a web motif at the center of his throat. A single long, gold earring dangles from one ear. A vivid red rose is pinned to the lapel of his suit jacket, enhancing the romantic and dramatic tone of the portrait. The background is split with one side a muted beige and the other a bold, deep red, complemented by the soft silhouette of a green plant leaf. The overall lighting is warm and moody, contrasting between elegance and rebellion.

Output:

4. The Dark Side

Prompt:

Make a hyper-realistic portrait of the uploaded person (preserve face 100%) wearing a high-end fashion LV outfit. The background is orange, the clothing is minimal, as a hyper-realistic scene, the guy is just slightly visible due to dark shadows, and he is wearing modern fashion frames.

Output:

5. The Serene Sunset Look

Prompt:

Create a softly lit portrait of the uploaded person standing indoors near a window with warm sunlight streaming through. Use a cinematic, golden-hour lighting style that highlights the face and hair with natural glow and soft shadows. The person should be wearing a loose, casual white shirt with slightly rolled-up sleeves. The mood should feel calm, dreamy, and natural, with soft depth of field and a warm, intimate atmosphere.

Output:

6. Retro Vinyl Lounge Vibe

Prompt:

Create a hyper-realistic portrait of the uploaded person (preserve face 100%) styled as a 1970s retro icon. He is seated casually in a dimly lit lounge with vintage vinyl records stacked behind him, a glowing jukebox casting warm neon light across the scene. Outfit: open-collared patterned silk shirt, flared trousers, gold chain, and tinted aviator sunglasses. The lighting is warm amber with subtle film grain, evoking the ambience of old Bollywood jazz clubs. Pose is relaxed, with one arm resting on a velvet sofa and a confident half-smile.

Output:

Tips to Get the Best Results

Here’s how to make sure your Nano Banana Retro Image truly captures the Bollywood magic:

• Choose strong lighting: Well-lit photos work best. Natural daylight or warm indoor lighting helps the AI pick up clear details for retro styling.
• Face the camera: A front-facing photo with visible facial features makes for the most authentic Bollywood-style render.
• Dress the part: Outfits that already hint at vintage fashion, collared shirts, sarees, or jackets, enhance the retro effect.
• Keep distractions out: A clean background ensures the AI focuses on you, not unnecessary elements.
• Avoid group shots: Stick to a single subject for maximum detail and accuracy.
• A good photo = a great poster: The sharper the original, the more cinematic the final result.

Pro Tip: If you want extra Bollywood flair, like a vintage car, cinema hall, or neon signboards in the background, mention these explicitly in your prompt for the AI to add them seamlessly.

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Try It Yourself

AI is rewriting how we see ourselves on screen, breaking all possible barriers in the process. With tools like Nano Banana, you can step straight into the golden age of Bollywood. And retro posters are only the beginning of what’s possible.

If you haven’t given it a shot yet, now’s the perfect time. Head to the official Gemini website, upload your photo, and let Nano Banana transform it into a Bollywood-style retro image. The nostalgia, colours, and cinematic flair will make it hard to stop at just one poster.