We share a different kind of love for all old films and the reason for this is clear: script, performance, punchline, emotions and more. Subsequently, Bollywood stars finalized the script and kept in touch with writers and directors after hearing this. They made options based on instinct, connection and curiosity. But that era is gradually being replaced by a system where agents and managers are not just the sutters, they are actually running the show.
In today’s time, many stars do not even have time to listen to the script before signing the film. Instead, their managers decide whether it is worth considering, often based on trends, brand partnerships, or marketing capacity with a storyline on a full seat. I personally consider this change in the power of decision making as a fall of creative freedom in Bollywood and why not do it!
Yes, there were always managers in the industry, but the best people worked as a partner, not the decision -makers. He offered the filter offering, interacting on deals and protecting the interests of his customers without the artist’s saying. However, in today’s time, agents are more focused on converting actors into commercial packages, often bypassing bold or meaningful scripts that do not come with attractive PR capacity or box office guarantee.
It is not just hurting the actors, it is harming the cinema. Some highly talented filmmakers also struggle to get through an actor because a manager does not see that we say ‘ability’ in the story, resulting in some unique stories never told. And when actors allow others to make creative calls for them, we start repeated, formula films often lack emotional depth or risk. However, this is not the case with every actor or every film.
Meanwhile, many Bollywood stars have subtle themselves in reality that they have missed meaningful films because their team did not push them. And on the other hand, some have talked about taking personal interest in their choice and withdrawing the awards of being on hands.
The solution is not to display managers, I know that their role is very important, especially in an industry as is running fast as Bollywood. But the balance should be restored. Actors need to recover the agency on their careers. Listening to the script is not just about choosing a project, it is more about being associated with craft and choosing projects based on instincts.
At the end of the day, stories run cinema. When artists stop listening to them, magic feeds and Bollywood deserve better than this.
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