Vivek Agnihotri Says ‘Star-Kid Obsession' Is Hurting Bollywood: ‘A Common Man Can't Make Entry'
Vivek Agnihotri blames Bollywood's decline on star-kid obsession, lack of new talent, and undervaluing writers.
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has delivered yet another blunt critique of the Hindi film industry, this time targeting its lack of inclusivity, over-reliance on star kids, and disregard for writers. Speaking with Siddharth Kannan, the director said Bollywood's closed-door culture is stifling new talent and weakening its creative core.
'It is because there has been no new talent entering the film industry. A common man cannot make an entry," Vivek said. Using the example of Shah Rukh Khan, he argued that if the superstar were to debut today without English fluency or an elite background, he might never get through the doors of a studio.
He criticised the current selection process that prioritises Instagram followers over acting ability, questioning how aspiring actors from smaller cities like Kanpur, Jhansi, or Visakhapatnam could ever break in. 'So what happens is, they take kids from film families. Also, star kids want to become influencers, and influencers want to become stars," he added.
'Writers Ki Koi Aukaat Nahi Hai'
Vivek also took aim at the sidelining of writers in Bollywood, which he believes is damaging the quality of Hindi cinema. 'Writers ki koi aukaat nahi hai. Stars aur studios ne unki aukaat cheen li hai. They've made a nexus. Studios want numbers, and for that, they want stars… The writer gets ₹10, while the star gets ₹10,000," he said.
He pointed out that the overexposure of star kids on social media — from their outfits to their workouts — strips away the audience's ability to imagine them as different characters. This, combined with poor writing, results in films lacking depth and authenticity.
Vivek's Upcoming Film: The Bengal Files
Despite his criticism of the industry, Vivek Agnihotri continues to make politically charged films that aim to provoke discussion. His next project, The Bengal Files, follows the controversial success of The Kashmir Files. The upcoming film will explore West Bengal's history of political violence and ideological conflict, with a star-studded cast featuring Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Darshan Kumar.
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