Naseeruddin Shah, the esteemed luminary of the Indian film realm, recently voiced his strong sentiments in an interview by expressing his disdain towards Bollywood. He articulated his preference for Korean and Thai cinema over Bollywood, stating that he finds greater resonance with their films. Shah, a recipient of both the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards for his outstanding contributions to cinema, has sparked significant discussion with his candid remarks.
Addressing an audience in Mumbai, he voiced his appreciation for Korean and Thai cinema while drawing comparisons to Indian films. He remarked, “Korean films surpass Bollywood films… We often boast that the world is enamored with Bollywood. Yet, I detest the term ‘Bollywood’. Just as Indian cuisine earns global acclaim for its intrinsic qualities, likewise, Bollywood films are purportedly gaining popularity. Nevertheless, I assure you, this facade will eventually crumble as these films lack substance and are crafted with transparent motives.”
For those who don’t know, many Bollywood movies have been inspired by South Korean blockbusters. These include Kartik Aaryan’s ‘Dhamaka’, Salman Khan’s ‘Radhe’, and Sidharth Malhotra’s ‘Ek Villain’. Naseeruddin Shah said in his statement that he is not interested in the stories and scenes of Bollywood cinema. He said that he likes the rich and unique narratives of Korean and Thai films, which are different from Bollywood.
Naseeruddin Shah’s recent statement has raised concerns about ongoing issues within Bollywood. With a growing focus on worldwide cinema, there’s a challenge looming for Bollywood to contend with. However, some perspectives view Shah’s statement as merely his personal opinion, reflective of his taste rather than a sweeping judgment on the industry.
HT Lifestyle has shared this video clip of Naseeruddin Shah on Facebook. After watching the video, many types of reactions are coming out from the users. Some users are criticizing this statement by calling it national, while on the other hand, many people are in support of it.