In the glitz and glamor of India’s film industry, a troubling phenomenon has taken root—an artificially propped-up culture of "stars" and their "stardom," which has all but eclipsed the fundamentals of filmmaking. These so-called "actors" and "actresses" have built an echo chamber that serves only themselves, shielding their mediocrity from scrutiny and inflating their status to mythical proportions. It’s a glittering facade, but scratch the surface, and the truth is glaring: beneath the costumes, makeup, and carefully curated personas, these "stars" remain woefully ill-equipped to embody a character or serve the story being told.
True acting demands transformation. It’s about shedding oneself to inhabit the skin, soul, and psyche of a fictional being, to bring a character to life with authenticity and depth. Yet, for decades, the Indian film industry has celebrated performers who do nothing of the sort. Instead, they parade on screen as exaggerated versions of their off-screen selves, their performances reduced to a collage of poses, exaggerated expressions, and melodramatic lines. Acting, as a craft, has been forsaken, replaced by mimicry and grandstanding.
The problem is systemic. These "stars" are propped up by an ecosystem that prioritizes image over substance. PR machinery churns tirelessly to maintain the illusion of their greatness, ensuring their faces are omnipresent—from endorsements and advertisements to award stages. Major Indian awards, once intended to celebrate cinematic excellence, have devolved into private interests, rigged to favor the same handful of "stars." These ceremonies are no longer about merit but about reinforcing a flawed hierarchy that benefits a select few while sidelining genuine talent. Read our articles on: "A Bollywood Saga of Inflated Accolades and Audience Discontent," "Pathaan: A Spectacular Sacrifice of The Storytelling Craft," "The Broken Astra: The Storytelling Failure of 'Brahmastra Part One'," "Beyond the Roar: Unpacking 'RRR's' Oscar Snub," and "Bollywood's Future Lies in the Storytelling Craft, not its Stars."
This artificial construct of stardom is not just damaging—it is unsustainable. None of these so-called "stars" stand a chance outside their echo chamber. Their “stardom” is not earned through the ability to inhabit diverse characters but through an incessant cycle of self-promotion, familial nepotism, and manipulated accolades. Beneath the layers of outlandish make-up, designer costumes, and choreographed sequences, many of these “stars” fail to transform into the characters they portray. Instead, they remain as themselves, performing caricatures rather than characters, robbing cinema of its authenticity and depth. Their inability to immerse themselves in a role, to convincingly transform into someone else, renders them irrelevant in global cinema. They are, quite simply, out of their depth in a world where storytelling and acting are revered as art forms, not reduced to vanity projects.
Contrast this with Hollywood, where acting is a revered craft, and the difference is stark. Actors and actresses are celebrated for their ability to disappear into roles, to embody the essence of a character so fully that audiences forget who they are off-screen. These are not just performers but chameleons, breathing life into narratives that transcend the screen. If you ever get a chance watch the real actors and actresses in the picture above become the characters in the stories being told in their movies. It is remarkable indeed.
Five Ways Real Actors from Hollywood Differ from Indian ‘Stars’
Transformation vs. Preservation
Hollywood: Real actors become the characters. From Daniel Day-Lewis’s transformative roles (Lincoln, My Left Foot) to Charlize Theron’s unrecognizable portrayal in Monster, Hollywood actors immerse themselves completely, sacrificing vanity for authenticity.
India: Indian “stars” rarely leave the comfort zone of their on-screen personas. Whether playing a farmer or a tycoon, they remain unmistakably themselves, banking on their pre-established image rather than embodying a new identity.
Training and Preparation
Hollywood: Actors rigorously train for their roles, often undergoing physical transformations, mastering skills, or studying extensively. Think Christian Bale’s drastic body transformations or Natalie Portman's training in ballet for Black Swan.
India: Most Indian “stars” rely on surface-level preparation, focusing on external aesthetics rather than internalizing the character’s psyche. Their performance often stops at donning a costume rather than stepping into the soul of the character.
Diverse Range vs. Typecasting
Hollywood: Versatility is a hallmark of great actors. Meryl Streep’s ability to seamlessly shift from The Iron Lady to Mamma Mia! exemplifies this diversity.
India: Many “stars” stick to formulaic roles, typecast into genres that exploit their on-screen persona rather than challenge their range. Their careers are often a repetition of the same character under different guises.
Merit-Based Recognition vs. Manufactured Stardom
Hollywood: Awards like the Oscars, Emmys, and Golden Globes are often merit-based, rewarding exceptional performances across the industry.
India: Most awards, barring a few exceptions like the National Film Awards, are private spectacles where trophies are handed out to the highest bidder or further career agendas, reinforcing an artificial hierarchy of stardom.
Audience Trust vs. Audience Exploitation
Hollywood: Audiences expect actors to bring their A-game to every role. Poor performances face scrutiny, ensuring that only the best thrive.
India: Audiences are often taken for granted, lured into theaters by the allure of “star power” and high-octane marketing, only to be served formulaic, poorly acted films that exploit their loyalty.
Read our articles on: "Oscar-Winning Storytelling Craft of Oppenheimer," Understanding the Storytelling Magic of 'Killers of the Flower Moon'," "The Storytelling Genius of Legendary Filmmakers," and "'The Shape of Water': Unpack A Cinematic Masterpiece."
The Toll on Indian Cinema’s Legacy
The consequences of this echo chamber extend far beyond the careers of individual “stars.” It has degraded the fundamentals of filmmaking, sidelining story and storytelling craft in favor of marketable faces and bloated productions. The result is an industry that struggles to resonate globally, failing to deliver the emotional and intellectual depth that today’s discerning audiences seek.
This is not to say that Indian cinema lacks talent—it is brimming with gifted actors, writers, and filmmakers who often operate outside the limelight of this star-dominated system. Their stories, performances, and contributions are overshadowed by the noise of superficial stardom. Disney saw this propped-up clout of "stars" and their "stardom" firsthand when they acquired a majority stake in UTV Pictures during the production and release of "Chennai Express." This resulted in the death knell to UTV Pictures and true to form that truth was underplayed by the echo chamber and the paid media in India.
A Call to Action
For Indian cinema to reclaim its rightful place on the global stage, it must dismantle this toxic culture of manufactured stardom. The focus must shift back to the craft of storytelling, with a meritocratic system that rewards genuine talent and creativity. Audiences, too, have a role to play by demanding authenticity, rejecting mediocrity, and celebrating performances that truly move and inspire. It’s time for Indian cinema to look beyond the glitz and glamour of its "stars" and return to the roots of what makes films timeless: authentic stories brought to life by authentic actors who can enhance the storytelling to make the filmmaking process they are part of to make their movies believable, emotionally engaging, intellectually compelling, relevant, and meaningful.
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