Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, known for delivering some of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters over the last three decades, recently shared his views on the current state of the film industry and the insecurity he sees among new-generation actors. In an interview with Mukesh Chhabra for Mashable India, Shetty discussed how the younger stars are overly influenced by social media and how it impacts their professional growth.
Shetty’s latest film, Singham Again, released to mixed reviews, is still performing well at the box office. Reflecting on the changing dynamics of stardom, he expressed concern over the pressure that social media places on actors today. “The new stars are insecure people. They are too much into social media, which is not the real world,” he stated. He criticised the reliance on paid followers and articles, emphasising that genuine success still depends on proving oneself on the big screen. “Buying followers or having paid articles won’t help after two years. It will always be film-to-film,” he warned.
Shetty contrasted the current trend with the more grounded approach of Bollywood’s earlier superstars, who largely stayed away from social media. He also advised young actors to treat every project equally and trust their instincts, without fearing failure or outside opinions. “Never think of any work as big or small. You just have to follow your conviction,” Shetty said. “You don’t have to discuss it with others.”
Drawing from his own experience, Shetty recounted a pivotal moment in Salman Khan’s career when the actor’s films were not performing well at the box office. Despite his superstar status, Khan took a supporting role in Sunny Deol’s Jeet (1996), which turned out to be a success and helped revitalise his career. “This quality in stars is now fading,” Shetty noted, underscoring how Khan saw the role as an opportunity rather than a setback.
Shetty also shared how he embraced unexpected opportunities that shaped his own career. After directing All The Best, he was offered the comedy show Comedy Circus, which he took without hesitation. “It ran for five years and then opened doors for Khatron Ke Khiladi,” Shetty said. He credited these projects with building his brand and making him a household name. “We need to take risks; it’s okay if it goes wrong, but what if it goes right?” he added.
The filmmaker also criticised the entourage surrounding today’s stars, suggesting their influence can often be counterproductive. “The teams that are formed around the new generation of stars is the most dangerous thing today,” Shetty said, warning that such teams often encourage actors to second-guess themselves. He reminded young actors that their legacy is shaped by their body of work, not by individual successes or failures. “Do you remember how many flops Amitabh Bachchan has had in his career? We just remember him as the brand Amitabh Bachchan because he did all kinds of roles for 50 years,” Shetty pointed out.
Ultimately, Shetty’s advice to the new generation was clear: stop fearing failure and seek validation from your own work rather than others. “My films Cirkus and Dilwale didn’t work, but people still remember me for Golmaal and All The Best. That’s all that matters,” he concluded.