Thought Factory

THOUGHT FACTORY: REAL ACTORS DON'T FIT BOLLYWOOD

by Monojit Lahiri April 8 2025, 12:00 am Estimated Reading Time: 3 mins, 21 secs

Despite the rise of India's finest acting talents, Bollywood continues to sideline them, favouring glamour and star power over substance, skill, and storytelling that demands authenticity and emotional depth. Monojit Lahiri writes…

In India, where cinema is often equated with spectacle, Bollywood continues to cater to mass entertainment by focusing on star value and commercial viability over talent and storytelling depth. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad, where the film industry thrives, are flooded with aspiring actors trained in method, realism, and theatre — yet they struggle to find meaningful space within mainstream Bollywood. Until Indian cinema truly embraces narrative-driven films and the depth real actors bring, the industry will continue to undervalue its most powerful storytellers.

The Elephant in the Studio
During a television interview a while ago, legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah, known for his razor-sharp candour, shared his thoughts on the current wave of meaningful Indian cinema and the remarkable acting talent it has brought into the limelight. Films like Waiting, Masaan, Titli, and Aligarh have showcased powerful performances from actors like the late Irrfan Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Randeep Hooda, Manoj Bajpayee, Swara Bhaskar, Kalki Koechlin, Richa Chadda, and Radhika Apte.

Shah, always one to call a spade a shovel, acknowledged the quality of recent films and performances but raised a pointed concern: Can mainstream Bollywood truly appreciate and promote these real actors? Does the industry have the foresight, understanding, or willingness to nurture them?

Shah’s doubts are not unfounded. Bollywood has a patchy record when it comes to supporting actors who don’t fit its glittery, escapist mould. He quipped, half-joking, that maybe miracles still happen — and perhaps these actors might get lucky.

To some, Shah might appear as the industry’s perennial critic, but his questions cut deep: Why have truly skilled actors rarely broken into the mainstream limelight? Why is Bollywood seemingly unequipped to deal with grounded, method-trained performers while comfortably selling style over substance?

Are Real Actors Too Real?
Actors like Adil Hussain, known for roles in Life of Pi, Lootera, and English Vinglish, are blunt about this disconnect. “Bollywood doesn’t have the vision or qualifications to identify real acting talent,” Hussain asserted. “They prefer their bubble of glossy star-power and dramatics, which they mistake for good acting.”

He argued that if there was genuine intent, stalwarts like Naseer, Om Puri, and Pankaj Kapur — or today’s Nawaz, Kay Kay Menon, Konkona Sen Sharma, and Richa Chadda — wouldn’t remain underutilized.

Apurva Asrani, writer of Shahid, CityLights, and Aligarh, points to India’s deep-rooted culture of idol-worship extending to cinema. “Stars dominate our imagination. In that world, actors are just background fillers,” he says. Even when content-driven cinema gains praise, the industry's priorities remain firmly tied to star value.

He adds that real change will come only when writers and actors are empowered with the freedom, respect, and remuneration they deserve. Until then, Bollywood will continue to place stars on pedestals while real actors are left on the sidelines.

Scriptwriter Juhi Chaturvedi (Piku, Madras Café, Vicky Donor) believes Bollywood operates like a corporate machine. “Big banners don’t want to experiment. It’s a system designed for predictable output, not artistic risk,” she notes.

Chaturvedi echoes Shah’s concerns, explaining that real actors are collaborators — they ask questions, seek clarity, and dive deep into character. Unfortunately, that level of engagement unsettles most commercial directors who are used to compliance, not creative discussions.

The Glamour Mirage
So, despite all the talk about a “new wave” in Indian cinema, the industry remains primarily driven by superficial glitz — flashy wardrobes, larger-than-life sets, chart-topping songs, and market-friendly storytelling. In such a setting, authenticity, nuance, and raw talent often become misfits.

Bollywood’s mantra remains unchanged: "Jo dikhta hai, woh bikta hai" — what is seen is what sells. And in that equation, the invisible brilliance of real actors rarely stands a chance.