Actor Harsh Varrdhan Kapoor recently addressed the growing sentiment that “Bollywood is finished,” sharing his views on how the industry needs a shift in focus from commercial formulas to storytelling. His comments come in response to ongoing discussions about the current state of Bollywood, with many pointing out the reliance on star power and conventional commercial films.
Kapoor, who is known for his unconventional film choices, expressed concern that the projects green-lit by producers today belong to an outdated era. He believes the industry’s current obsession with formulas and stardom has stifled fresh, creative narratives. Kapoor was quick to point out that while commercial films continue to be backed even after failures, this same support should be extended to unconventional films that don’t follow the typical Bollywood mold.
Responding to a user’s comment on social media who pointed out his untapped potential, Harsh Varrdhan stated, “With all due respect, you have no idea how difficult it is to do anything that’s offbeat or not conventional in this business… it can take years to make films like Bhavesh Joshi or Thar.” He emphasized the challenges of pursuing unconventional storytelling, mentioning how projects such as Ray and AK are rare in today’s cinema landscape.
In his response, the actor shared that he has been tirelessly working to produce and act in films that stray from the conventional, mentioning his responsibility in co-producing and co-creating such films. He highlighted the example of Thar, where he backed director Raj Singh Chaudhary’s vision despite the filmmaker being relatively unknown at the time.
Kapoor further expressed his frustration with the lack of backing for unconventional filmmakers. He remarked that while he may not have an endless supply of money, he possesses “endless passion and ideas” for filmmaking. He promised that if he were properly supported, he would deliver unforgettable films that would stand out from the crowd.
The actor, who comes from a prominent Bollywood family—his father is the celebrated actor Anil Kapoor, and his sisters are actresses Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor—has been vocal about his desire to break free from traditional Bollywood tropes. Harsh Varrdhan made his debut in 2016 with Mirzya, which unfortunately did not perform well at the box office. Since then, he has worked in films like Thar and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, both of which leaned into more unique, offbeat narratives.
Looking ahead, Kapoor has a much-anticipated project in the pipeline: the biopic of Olympic gold medalist shooter Abhinav Bindra. As he works on the biopic, Kapoor continues to advocate for change in Bollywood, with an emphasis on creativity, passion, and storytelling over commercial success.
His comments reflect a larger conversation about the future of Bollywood and the need for change in an industry that has long been dominated by star power and formulaic storytelling. Kapoor’s focus on supporting fresh, unconventional filmmakers is a step towards creating space for new ideas and innovative narratives in Indian cinema.
Sources By Agencies
