With films taking a “more realistic turn”, director Priyadarshan believes the allure of superstars will slowly be replaced by the power of good storytelling. One of the most bankable filmmakers, Priyadarshan has worked with some of the biggest names in Bollywood — from Salman Khan in the 2005 drama “Kyon Ki…”, Shah Rukh Khan in “Billu” (2007), to Akshay Kumar, his long-time collaborator on hits like “Hera Pheri”, “Garam Masala” and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa”.
While his films with the superstars ranged from dramas to comedies, the 64-year-old director, who has been making movies for nearly four decades across genres and languages, said the viewers today reject films they don’t find authentic.
“The industry has changed. I think this is the last era of superstars. Whoever is enjoying today, Shah Rukh to Salman to Akshay… they should be thankful to God. Tomorrow, the superstar will be the content.”
“I can see how films are taking a more realistic turn. You can’t exaggerate without a believable situation. Even in a comedy or a serious film, the make-believe should look right. I don’t think any film can fail if it looks convincing,” Priyadarshan said.
The filmmaker is currently gearing up for the release of his latest feature, “Hungama 2”, scheduled to stream on Disney+ Hotstar from July 23. The comedy will mark his return to Hindi films after the 2013 action drama “Rangrezz”. Though Priyadarshan was known for comedies, his Hindi projects in the last decade –“Aakrosh”, “Tezz” and “Rangrezz” — were more in the realm of drama.
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