Filmmaker Karan Johar has called out what he sees as a growing obsession among Bollywood actors with controlling every aspect of filmmaking, from character choices to box-office strategies.
According to Hindustan Times, he believes the industry is increasingly driven by imitation and insecurity, with performers paying more attention to commercial calculations than their craft.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Johar said he was particularly concerned about the herd mentality among actors and filmmakers who no longer trust their creative instincts.
Instead, he argued, many try to follow whatever formula they believe will guarantee box-office success.
The filmmaker recalled instances when actors interrupted narrations because they felt their characters were not sufficiently ‘alpha’ or ‘front-footed’.
He questioned the demand for dominant, aggressive roles, pointing out that commercially successful films do not always depend on such characters.
As an example, he referred to ‘Saiyaara’, whose central character is an empathetic lover rather than a conventional action-driven hero.
Johar also expressed frustration over actors questioning decisions that traditionally fall within a filmmaker’s responsibilities.
He said some performers ask about visual effects budgets, the film’s setting and casting choices, despite not being involved in producing the projects.
He recalled actors asking why a particular performer had been cast instead of someone else. Johar argued that once an actor accepts a role, the rest of the casting should not become their concern.
He was equally critical of performers seeking influence over promotional campaigns, trailer edits and poster designs. “I’m surprised and shocked that they want to do everything but act,” he said, before asking: “When are you… acting exactly?”
However, Johar acknowledged that experienced performers deserve a greater say because of their knowledge of the industry.
He specifically mentioned Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan, saying he would respect their opinions because their experience and understanding surpass his own.
The filmmaker also warned against the tendency to replicate successful films. Referring to ‘Dhurandhar’, he praised its distinctive background score and filmmaking approach but cautioned that every project could not follow the same formula.
Johar said filmmakers should return to instinctive storytelling rather than approach every project through commercial calculations.
“If there was math, we would all be chartered accountants, not filmmakers. We are storytellers. Can we just tell our stories?” he said.
The comments come as Johar continues to host the ninth season of his popular talk show ‘Koffee with Karan’ on JioHotstar.
