Vivek Oberoi, who is known for speaking his mind without any filter, added his thoughts on Ajay Devgan’s statement about the lack of influencers in Indian cinema. He accepted Ajay’s statement and said that in today’s time, a void has arisen in Bollywood due to the lack of influential men. There are no actors like Sunny Deol, Ajay Devgan, or Jackie Shroff who can buy a room as soon as they walk in.
During an interview with MensXP, Vivek Oberoi highlighted the growing void in the industry, and pointed out how the current generation of actors lacks the commanding presence that Amitabh Bachchan had in the 70s. Later it was filled by actors like Sunny Deol, Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt. But, again, it’s empty.
Vivek’s observation reflects the sentiment felt by fans who remember the larger-than-life celebrities of Bollywood past. Discussing this difference, Vivek asked, “Tell me, who is the next Sunny Deol? There is no one. Who is the next Ajay Devgan? There is no one. Who is the next Sanjay Dutt? There is no one who can do that ” Just walk in and own the room.”
According to Oberoi, earlier male stars did not just act; She reflected an aura of strength and confidence which captivated the audience. She had a commanding screen presence that commanded attention and was enough to make a statement. This immediately made him stand out from the crowd. However, he believes this quality is becoming increasingly rare, with many young artists focusing on gaining approval rather than standing their ground.
Vivek also highlighted how southern cinema is stepping up to fill this gap. He pointed out that actors like Allu Arjun (Pushpa), Yash (KGF) and Prabhas have successfully established themselves as leading personalities. This is an important reason for his popularity and the reason why his films have been liked and accepted across the country including North India. He believes that people admire actors from the South because they bring back that intense, magnetic presence that Bollywood currently lacks.
When asked about the difference between a man and a boy, he said, “A boy comes into the room expecting that he can please everybody. A man comes into the room knowing that He doesn’t have to please anyone.”
The Saathiya actor emphasized that it reflects the changing dynamics in Indian cinema. As Bollywood struggles to redefine its leading men, southern stars have become national icons by staying true to their roots.
Earlier, Ajay Devgan had raised the issue in an interview with Ranir Allahbadia and talked about how social media and overexposure often eat away at young actors. He believes this trend makes it difficult for stars to maintain the enigma-like leading man quality that was the USP of previous superstars.
Also read: Do you know that Vivek Oberoi had to say ‘no’ to Shahrukh Khan’s Om Shanti Om for this film?
