Ever wondered what it takes to make it big in Bollywood? Dulquer Salmaan, a prominent name in the Indian film industry, recently shared some eye-opening insights into the demands of the Hindi film world. It seems that beyond talent, there's a significant emphasis on projecting a 'big star' image.
Dulquer, who made his Bollywood debut in 2018 with the film Karwaan, alongside the late Irrfan Khan and Mithila Palkar, revealed his experiences during a roundtable discussion. He shared his observations alongside fellow actors and filmmakers like Rana Daggubati, Archana Kalpathi, and Vikramaditya Motwane.
During the discussion, Dulquer confessed that he and his team were sometimes treated poorly in the Hindi film industry. This led him to the realization that he needed to cultivate a certain 'star' persona just to be taken seriously.
He recounted a specific experience, stating, "When I did Hindi films here, the two people that I would come with and I would just get pushed around on sets. I had to create this illusion of being a big star; otherwise, I wouldn't find a chair to sit on."
He further elaborated on the challenges, mentioning that even finding a space behind the monitor was difficult due to the sheer number of people on set. This, according to Dulquer, boils down to perception. If you arrive in a fancy car with a large entourage, you're immediately perceived as a star.
But here's where it gets controversial... Dulquer expressed his sadness about this reality, wishing his energy could be channeled into more productive aspects of his work. He also speculated on the reasons behind this phenomenon.
He highlighted the scale of the Hindi film industry as a potential contributing factor. "I just couldn't understand. I don't want to be mean to any industry, but I guess it's a cultural thing. Rana and I were discussing that the size of the Hindi industry is so massive, the number of theatres, markets, and so many states that speak the language and watch those films. We have just 1-2 states, and we think that we are a big deal. Maybe the size of the industry influences things.”
And this is the part most people miss... This candid revelation offers a peek behind the curtain of the film industry, suggesting that success isn't solely based on talent and hard work, but also on how one is perceived.
Dulquer's recent work includes the period mystery drama Kaantha, where he played the lead role. The film, set in 1950s Madras (now Chennai), follows the story of a superstar. He is next slated to appear in the action film I'm Game, directed by Nahas Hidhayath.
What do you think? Do you believe that projecting a 'big star' image is necessary for success in Bollywood? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Do you think this is a fair assessment, or is there more to the story? Let's discuss!
