Hansal Mehta On Bollywood’s Future: “Invest In Actors, Not Stars”

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri recently spoke about the decline of Hindi cinema, blaming the lack of talented newcomers. However, Hansal Mehta disagrees and believes Bollywood is not dying but needs a fresh approach.

On Monday, Hansal Mehta shared his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), saying that Hindi cinema needs a reset. He explained that the industry is struggling because too much money is spent on safe, formulaic films rather than bold storytelling and new talent. He wrote,
“Bollywood isn’t dying, it’s waiting for a change. Stars don’t always bring audiences, but conviction does.”

Issues in Bollywood

Hansal criticized the paid publicity culture, which benefits publicists but harms the industry. He urged producers to invest in real talent, intelligent marketing, and unique stories rather than just big names.

He also gave a shoutout to promising actors like Aadarsh Gourav, Vedang Raina, Raghav Juyal, Ishaan Khatter, Zahan Kapoor, Sparsh Shrivastava, Aditya Rawal, Abhay Verma, and Lakshya.

His Advice to Bollywood

• Producers should focus on long-term success, not just weekend box office numbers.
• Streaming platforms should support real talent instead of relying on algorithms.
• Directors should cast actors based on skill, not just popularity.

He concluded by saying,
“Hindi cinema doesn’t need saving—it needs a shift in priorities. Invest in actors, not stars. Write without fear. Direct with conviction.”

Hansal Mehta’s Upcoming Project

Hansal Mehta is currently working on Gandhi, a historical drama series produced by Applause Entertainment. It stars Pratik Gandhi and is based on books by Ramachandra Guha. The first season is expected to release this year.

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