Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan has said that a lack of trust is changing how films are made. Speaking on Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi’s show “Double Date,” she said many of today’s actors have no confidence in the people around them, including the director.
According to Bollywood Hungama, Farah said that nobody among today’s actors has confidence and that they want to interfere everywhere. In the source text she says they want to choreograph their own songs and interfere with music and casting, and that this comes from not trusting yourself. She said actors who are sure of their abilities should trust their directors.
The Shah Rukh Example
To make her point, she pointed to Shah Rukh Khan. She said he never interfered in casting. When she wanted Sushmita Sen for “Main Hoon Na,” Sen was not yet a big heroine, and Shah Rukh did not question the choice. For “Om Shanti Om,” she said, he backed her pick of a newcomer, Deepika Padukone, after seeing her photograph. The source text quotes him as saying he was fine if she felt right about it; reports vary on the exact words.
The Salman Remark
Farah also praised Salman Khan’s discipline. According to the source text, she said he never asks for leave or refuses to shoot on Sundays. She said true stardom comes not from fame alone but from hard work and faith in the director. The source places Salman alongside Shah Rukh, Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar as stars who still keep their work ethic. Different outlets list slightly different names among the “last superstars.”
The End of the Superstar Era
When Angad Bedi remarked that the superstar era was over, Farah agreed, saying the last of them had already come. She also said some newer actors appear more interested in magazine covers and award shows than in strong film careers.
A Matter of Perspective
Farah did not name any younger actor, so her remarks are a general view, not a specific accusation. Others could argue that greater actor involvement reflects collaborative filmmaking, and that the producer-actor model gives actors a legitimate stake in a film’s creative choices. Her own examples come from two films, “Main Hoon Na” and “Om Shanti Om,” that she directed with Shah Rukh, so they reflect her experience with one star.
Why It Matters
The comment taps into a continuing industry discussion about how much say actors should have in casting, music and promotion, and whether star power has changed. As a director who has worked closely with several of the people she names, Farah speaks with some authority, but her view is one side of a debate.
What Comes Next
Younger actors have not yet responded in the reports found. Bolly Orbit will update this report if anyone does.