Bollywood Running Out of Ideas?

Nawazuddin Siddiqui minces no words when he says Bollywood is suffering from creative bankruptcy. He says the deficit is now more pronounced than earlier, as the film industry struggles to sustain itself.

“There are several factors at play. There was a time when a trend lasted for five years, before giving way to something new. There is growing insecurity, with creators feeling that if there is a certain formula that has worked, it is best to keep churning out the same old until it exhausts itself. What’s pathetic is that these are then mounted as ‘franchises.’ There is a creative depletion,” the actor says.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui also attributes the state of affairs to a lack of originality. Bollywood has earned a bad reputation of sustaining itself by borrowing ideas and lifting stories from international cinema as well as the thriving Southern film industries. “From songs to stories, we have lifted it all. How can you show any originality if that’s been your modus operandi? For that matter, some of the biggest or so-called cult films are all remakes, or inspired by some film or the other. Sadly, it has all been normalised. In an ecosystem like this, how will actors and directors who want to make good content thrive?” he asks.

He cites the example of his Gangs of Wasseypur director, Anurag Kashyap, who chose to leave Mumbai, unable to adapt to the situation. “It is not just him, there are several talented, independent filmmakers who are unable to sustain themselves, since there is no support system. When creativity doesn’t get an outlet, they embrace the system and start taking shortcuts,” he claimed.

As the industry comes under scrutiny for fudged ticket sales and inflated box office numbers, he says the audience is aware of what is true and what is not. “You can elevate a mediocre film by buying reviews and tickets, but you cannot sustain it, the audience is way too discerning,” he points out.

Nevertheless, he seems optimistic that the tide will turn sooner or later.

On new film ‘Costao’

Currently, the actor is reprising the life and times of Goan Customs Officer Costao Fernandes in the film Costao. In 1991, the 29-year-old junior customs officer became a one-man army to nab smugglers in Goa. In the process, he butted heads with senior government officials and politicians. Nawazuddin Siddiqui says the character’s “stand-alone” spirit resonates with him. “Apart from Ben Kingsley’s Gandhi and Naseeruddin Shah’s Mirza Ghalib, I have rarely enjoyed biopics on screen. When you play a real-life character, it’s a real test of your skills as an actor and your craft. One needs to be attentive to how one presents oneself, the idea is to never be a caricature. I am grateful for the training we received at the National School of Drama which taught us what not to do on-screen, and that’s something I abide by,” he shares.

Recently, the Sacred Games actor was among the headlines over the discord with his wife Aaliyah. Though all is well on that front now, the actor says striking a balance between the personal and professional gets challenging for anyone who is devoted to a cause. “History is witness – anyone who is immersed in or devoted to their profession goes through personal struggles. In the film too, you see Costao’s domestic struggles, because somewhere you end up compromising on one over the other. When you are creative and zoned out, you are unable to provide time to the family the way you should,” he admits.