Let me start with a question: When was the last time you saw a movie and thought, 'Wow, that cinematographer really nailed the lighting'? Or 'That director’s framing is revolutionary'? Chances are, your mind immediately jumped to the star’s name, their latest drama, or their Instagram story. This isn’t just a quirk of modern celebrity culture—it’s a symptom of a deeper, more troubling trend in Indian cinema. Hrithik Roshan’s recent agreement with filmmaker Pratim D Gupta about the public’s obsession with stardom over artistry feels less like a critique and more like a wake-up call. And honestly, I think we’re all ignoring it at our own peril.
The Star vs. The Story
Pratim Gupta’s Instagram rant wasn’t just about Vijay Sethupathi and Sai Pallavi getting more attention than Mani Ratnam. It was a scathing indictment of a system that reduces filmmaking to a popularity contest. He pointed out that while a star’s entrance into a restaurant becomes headline news, a visionary director’s return to a city goes unnoticed. This isn’t just media bias—it’s a cultural hierarchy that elevates visibility over value. What makes this particularly fascinating is how it mirrors the way social media algorithms reward surface-level engagement. A star’s selfie gets 10 million likes, but a cinematographer’s work? It’s buried under hashtags like #StarPower and #CelebSpotting.
Personally, I think this reflects a collective failure of imagination. We’ve trained ourselves to see cinema as a spectacle rather than a craft. The average viewer doesn’t care about the technical mastery behind a frame; they want to see their favorite actor in a dramatic arc. But what does that say about us? That we’ve become so addicted to the illusion of intimacy with celebrities that we’ve forgotten the magic of storytelling itself. It’s like watching a magician’s trick and obsessing over the rabbit instead of the sleight of hand.
A Cultural Disconnect
Hrithik Roshan’s comment—'Cinema is bigger than stardom, but we haven’t grown up to understand where the actual art lies'—strikes a nerve. It’s not just about pointing fingers at fans; it’s about acknowledging that the industry has actively cultivated this obsession. Studios greenlight projects based on star power, not script quality. Marketing budgets are poured into celebrity endorsements rather than narrative depth. And yet, we wonder why films feel increasingly hollow. What many people don’t realize is that this isn’t a new phenomenon. It’s been decades in the making, fueled by the rise of the megastar system and the commodification of talent.
One thing that immediately stands out is how this dynamic devalues the invisible labor of filmmakers. A cinematographer like Avik Mukhopadhyay, who’s created iconic visuals for generations, is reduced to a footnote in the news cycle. Meanwhile, a star’s throwaway line on a reality show becomes a viral sensation. This raises a deeper question: What happens when the art form we love is constantly overshadowed by its most visible participants? It’s not just about fairness—it’s about survival. If we don’t start celebrating the people who make cinema possible, we risk reducing it to a series of paparazzi moments and fan theories.
The Future of Film (or Lack Thereof)
If you take a step back and think about it, this obsession with stardom is a reflection of our broader societal anxiety. In an age of information overload, we crave simplicity: a familiar face, a predictable arc, a dopamine hit from celebrity gossip. But this is a dangerous shortcut. It’s why we’re seeing a rise in formulaic films that prioritize star wattage over substance. And it’s why indie filmmakers struggle to get noticed—they don’t have the luxury of a megastar’s name to sell their work.
What this really suggests is that the Indian film industry is at a crossroads. On one hand, there’s the commercial machine that thrives on star power. On the other, a growing segment of audiences and creators who crave depth, innovation, and recognition for the unsung heroes of cinema. The challenge isn’t just for filmmakers—it’s for all of us. We need to stop treating cinema as a passive consumption experience and start engaging with it as a collaborative art form. That means asking questions like: Who’s behind the camera? What’s the director’s vision? How does this scene contribute to the story? Not 'Who’s in it?'—because that’s the easy answer.
A Call to Reclaim Cinema
A detail that I find especially interesting is how this conversation is happening in the context of streaming platforms. Services like Netflix and Prime Video have democratized access to global cinema, yet they’ve also amplified the star-driven model. We’re now binge-watching shows that prioritize A-list actors over original storytelling. This isn’t just a problem for Bollywood—it’s a global issue. But here’s the thing: We have the power to change it. By choosing to support films that prioritize craft over celebrity, by engaging with reviews that highlight technical excellence, and by simply asking more from the content we consume.
In my opinion, the future of cinema depends on our willingness to look beyond the spotlight. It’s time to stop reducing art to a marketing gimmick and start appreciating the people who make it possible. Because if we don’t, we’ll end up with a world where the only thing left to celebrate is the star’s latest endorsement—and not the film itself.
