Bollywood is 'money-minded,' lost connection with native audience: Pawan Kalyan
What's the story
Pawan Kalyan, the veteran Telugu actor and politician, has criticized Bollywood for its commercialization. In a recent interview with Organiser Weekly, he said that while South Indian cinema remains rooted in Indian culture, Bollywood has become more globalized and money-minded. He called this transformation "buffoonery," saying it has led to a disconnect between films and audiences.
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Kalyan's comments on Bollywood
He told the outlet, "Over time, it changed due to filmmakers that came from different generations. Especially, Hindi cinema was influenced by globalization." "Since then, there are some movies which created buffoonery out of culturally connected characters, like tilak-dhaari people." The actor believes that South Indian cinema is more connected to the country's roots, and added that each film industry has its own unique strength.
Cultural pride
Kalyan claims South Indian films 'representing' Indian culture more
Kalyan claimed that South Indian cinema has been more successful in representing Indian culture than Bollywood in recent times. "Nowadays, South Indian films are representing Indian culture more. It has been done in Hindi cinema for a certain period," he said. However, he still thinks that some Bollywood movies have demonstrated India well. He cited Aamir Khan's Dangal as an example of a rooted Hindi film that connects with Bharateeyata.
Career highlights
Kalyan's upcoming movies
On the professional front, Kalyan is preparing for the release of his film Hari Hara Veera Mallu on July 24. He also has They Call Him OG and Ustaad Bhagat Singh in the pipeline. His comments on Bollywood come at a time when regional cinema is gaining popularity across India through projects such as Salaar, Pushpa, and Kantara, among others.