Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap while interacting with a media channel, explained why Bollywood has lost its star culture and why the audience has become a difficult force.
Hindi audience these days
A very well know filmmaker Anurag Kashyap talks about the Khan culture that is vanishing in Bollywood. Later, compares the stardom with South actors like Yash, Allu Arjun, and Fahadh Faasil.
“I have realized that by the end of the day films will work only when it speaks to you or the audience. Earlier, the audience used to be driven by stars. Now things are different. Because when you see the latest trolls, you understand that social media empowers people with opinions. Previously, you were unable to react to the actors as you only saw them on screens. Now, you can literally go and sh*t on them,” said Kashyap while speaking to Galatta Plus.
The 49-year-old further explains why the star system is gone for Bollywood and the audience is more bothered about the content rather than the actor.
“Earlier stars like the ‘Khans’ were able to pull off a film regardless of a story and the screenplay. Today, a star will lose his stardom even further if the film doesn’t have a story or screenplay. So, these guys (the Khans) have to take cinema more seriously.”
“In our time (referring to 80s and 90s), no one use to say a thing to Amitabh Bachchan. The moment we see him, we use to become stiff and nervous. Now, people say anything and everything to big stars like Shah Rukh Khan. Even with Aamir Khan and the Boycott culture around him. What was Aamir’s fault that further triggered the situation? Was it necessary? No! But the audience can do that.”
“After trolling the actors like Aamir, People nowadays feel they are equal to the actor. The wonder for Khans has gone completely,” said the filmmaker.
The stardom wonder
Anurag Kashyap feels the ‘stardom wonder’ is now with the South Stars like Yash, Allu Arjun, etc.
“Now, the stardom wonder is with Fahadh Faasil, Yash, Allu Arjun. These actors have created so much buzz that people don’t really know their names but they know who is Pushpa Raj and who is Rocky Bhai. And the same actors, if they give consistent blockbusters, people will speak their names.
Speaking about the madness South Fans have for their actors, Kashyap thinks Shah Rukh Khan still has that stardom left in him.
“People are mad about SRK. They want to see his films on the first day itself. If the film fails, the same people will reject the film like anything. But they are ultimately desperate for the actor’s next film. See, everybody loves Shah Rukh because of his persona and personality. At the same time, they can equally hate him. It is the actor’s responsibility to make the fans’ life joyful.”
