Actor-director Mahesh Manjrekar believes Hindi cinema is in the middle of a reset, driven by audiences who now expect more than surface-level spectacle. Drawing from a career that spans films like Vaastav and extensive work in regional cinema, he says the shift was bound to happen. Content over spectacle “Cinema is in a phase of correction. For years, scale was mistaken for substance,” he observes. Today’s viewers, he adds, are no longer satisfied with visual grandeur alone. “They want emotion with spectacle, not spectacle without emotion. A film must have a heartbeat before it has fireworks,” he adds. Referring to Vaastav, he points out that what endures is sincerity. “Truth travels. Even today, the films that stay are the ones rooted in human conflict,” he says.
Sanjay Dutt and Sanjay Narvekar in Vaastav
The star system debate Manjrekar does not dismiss the importance of stars but questions the industry’s reliance on them. “Star power is not the problem. Dependence on it is,” he says, noting that memorable stars emerge from well-written characters. When writing falters, audiences turn to familiar faces for assurance. He contrasts this with regional cinema, where storytelling often takes precedence. “The industry doesn’t limit diverse narratives, fear does,” he remarks. Theatre vs screen On whether theatre-trained actors get their due, he admits a gap still exists. “Cinema today often casts for visibility before ability. However, with the rise of digital platforms, performance-driven casting is gaining ground. Respect for craft always returns. It may take time, but authenticity cannot be sidelined forever,” he says.
