Sooraj Pancholi Says Bollywood Unity Is Dead: 'Everyone's A Coward Now'

News18

a day ago

Last Updated:
Sooraj Pancholi says Bollywood's unity is fading, calls today's actors 'cowards' and praises Tiger Shroff for showing rare support during Kesari Veer.
Bollywood actor Sooraj Pancholi is done sugarcoating the state of the Hindi film industry. In a candid conversation with Siddharth Kannan, the Kesari Veer star spoke openly about what he sees as the slow erosion of solidarity among today's generation of actors. His reflections come from a place of both experience and disappointment, shaped by a decade-long battle in the public eye and a recent return to cinema with his first lead role since being acquitted in the Jiah Khan case.
Speaking on the camaraderie he once admired among his father's generation, Sooraj shared a recent experience involving Tiger Shroff that offered a rare glimpse of old-school support. 'I just called Tiger and invited him to the premiere of Kesari Veer. He didn't ask any questions, didn't hesitate—he just showed up. That meant a lot," he recalled. 'It reminded me of how our fathers used to be with each other. My father, Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Dharam sir—those guys had each other's backs. That kind of bond is rare now."
According to Sooraj, the industry today is deeply fractured. 'People don't want to get involved in anyone else's issues. Back then, if someone got into trouble, everyone would show up—whether it was a fight, an accident, or a controversy. There was a sense of unity. You don't see that anymore," he said. 'Now, everyone's too scared. No one wants to take pangaas. Everyone's playing it safe. Everyone's being a coward. That's what it is."
He went on to explain that the fear isn't just about getting involved—it's about image management and the ever-present threat of backlash. 'Everyone's brand-conscious now. Showing up for someone might 'affect your image,' so people just don't bother. They'll come to your event if there are cameras there, if it makes them look good. But when you're down, or struggling quietly, very few people will check in. That's the truth."
Sooraj pointed to iconic names from Bollywood's past who embodied a very different spirit. 'Jackie Shroff, my father Aditya Pancholi, Dutt sir, Suniel Shetty—these were people who didn't care about PR optics. They were raw, real, and they looked out for their people. I've heard stories about Dharam ji literally getting into fights to protect his friends. That kind of fearlessness is missing today. Actors now are careful to the point of being absent."
He also called out the performative nature of today's support systems, saying that empathy often comes with conditions. 'If someone big in the industry falls ill or has a family emergency, suddenly you see everyone there—but mostly because they know the media will be too. Otherwise? Silence. The reality is, people move on quickly. Support has become selective, strategic."
For Pancholi, this topic hits close to home. In 2013, his relationship with actor Jiah Khan became the center of a storm after her death by suicide led to allegations against him. The case dragged on for nearly ten years, with constant media trials and emotional strain. He was finally acquitted in 2023 due to lack of evidence. The time in between left deep scars—and a clear view of who stood by him and who didn't.
'It's in your worst moments that you find out who your real people are," he said, without naming names. 'When you're not on magazine covers or trending on Instagram, you become invisible to most. That's the saddest part about this industry."
Now that he's back in the spotlight with Kesari Veer, a period action film that marks his attempt at career redemption, Sooraj remains hopeful—but grounded. 'I'm not bitter," he said. 'I just wish we could go back to that old-school loyalty. That sense of unity. That's what made this industry more than just a business. It made it a family."
First Published:
May 31, 2025, 18:02 IST