Veteran Bollywood actor Sunny Deol has expressed concerns about the declining passion in Bollywood filmmaking, stating that South Indian cinema has progressed by learning from Bollywood, while Hindi filmmakers have lost their creative spark. Speaking in a recent interview with Komal Nahata, Sunny pointed out how Bollywood once led the industry but is now lagging behind in terms of technical advancements and storytelling.
Sunny Deol on Bollywood’s Declining Passion
During the conversation, Sunny Deol emphasized that Bollywood once made films with great passion and dedication, but over time, that essence has started to fade. He remarked,
“Jis tarah se hum pehle cinema banate the, jiss passion se hum cinema banate the, unn cheezon ki lacking shuru hogyi hai. South ke log humse seekhke aage badhte gaye hain (The way we used to make cinema before, the passion with which we made cinema—those things have started lacking. The people from the South learned from us and kept moving forward).”
Sunny acknowledged that South Indian filmmakers have not only advanced technically but also ensure that their films appeal to a broad audience, unlike Bollywood, which often caters to niche viewers.
“Unka cinema hamesha chaaron taraf chalta hai. Hum logon ne beech mein karna kyun band kardia, mujhe nahi maalun, kaafi reasons honge I am sure (Their cinema always works everywhere. I don’t know why we stopped doing that in between; I’m sure there must be many reasons).”
Remakes and Lack of Originality
Sunny Deol further pointed out that Bollywood’s reliance on remaking South Indian films instead of creating original content is one of the reasons behind its decline. He said,
“Wahan ki filmein humne remake karke banani shuru kardi aur vohi dhandha kar rahi thi. (We started remaking their films, and that became a successful business at the box office). This means that somewhere, our creators, producers, writers, and directors no longer have the same passion and belief.”
The actor stressed that storytelling and direction are the true heroes of any film, and if Bollywood filmmakers return to focusing on these elements instead of relying on trends, the industry can regain its lost charm.
About Sunny Deol’s Upcoming Film Jaat
Sunny Deol is gearing up for his next action thriller, Jaat, directed by Gopichand Malineni, who is making his Hindi debut with the film. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and People Media Factory, Jaat features Regina Cassandra as the female lead and Randeep Hooda as the main antagonist. The ensemble cast also includes Ayesha Khan, Saiyami Kher, Zarina Wahab, Vineet Kumar Singh, Dayanand Shetty, Jagapati Babu, and Prashant Bajaj in key roles. The film is set to release in theatres on April 10.
As Bollywood continues to struggle with finding a balance between commercial success and creative storytelling, Sunny Deol’s remarks shed light on the industry’s ongoing challenges. With Jaat, he hopes to bring back the raw action-packed storytelling that once defined Bollywood’s golden era.
Sources By Agencies
