Picture Courtesy of Netflix
“Hindi Cinema Needs a Reset
For those predicting doom for Bollywood—pause. The industry isn’t dying. It’s waiting to be disrupted. The problem isn’t the audience losing interest. It’s that investment is being funneled into the safe, the recycled, the formulaic.
The future of Hindi cinema lies in betting on raw talent, bold storytelling, and directors who can take a script and direct the hell out of it. The past few years have proved that stars don’t necessarily bring audiences; conviction does.
A new generation of actors, filmmakers, and writers is ready to change the game. But it will take producers with vision, platforms that back stories over statistics, and directors who demand authenticity over familiarity. It will need solid financial discipline, intelligent exhibition strategy, and marketing that is well thought out and not the template paid publicity that is making publicists rich and the industry much poorer.
Here are some of the talents (male actors, for now; I will write one with female actors, directors, and writers later) that come to mind as I write this. Talent that needs faith, not second-guessing—because if nurtured right, they’re the future.”
⸻
Adarsh Gourav – The Shape-Shifter
From The White Tiger (BAFTA-nominated) to Guns & Gulaabs to Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan to the lovely Superboys of Malegaon, Adarsh is an actor who disappears into roles. He’s not a star; he’s a chameleon. Hollywood is already betting on him (Alien TV series). Bollywood needs to wake up and match that faith. This guy is a lambi race ka ghoda. Mark my words.
⸻
Vedang Raina – The Screen-Stealer
The Archies was just the intro. In Jigra, he showed a presence that felt effortless, assured, and natural. If given scripts that challenge him, he has the potential to break out as a serious leading man.
⸻
Ishaan Khatter – The Untapped Dynamo
From his debut in Dhadak to Beyond the Clouds to A Suitable Boy to Pippa to being an object of lust in The Perfect Couple, Ishaan has proved he’s capable of far more than his filmography suggests. His energy is rare. His instincts are sharp. He needs scripts and directors who push him—not just projects that play it safe.
⸻
Zahan Kapoor – The Breakthrough Name
In Faraaz, he showed restraint and maturity that felt rare for such a young first-timer. Then came Black Warrant, which cemented him as a name to watch. He has depth, sincerity, and a hunger to go beyond the obvious.
⸻
Aditya Rawal – The Disruptor
Bamfaad showed rawness. Faraaz won him a Filmfare. Bambai Meri Jaan proved he can command a screen presence even in an ensemble. He is not looking for stardom—he’s looking for roles. And that’s exactly why he’ll go far if directors recognize that hunger.
⸻
Sparsh Shrivastava – The Silent Revolution
From Jamtara to Laapataa Ladies, Sparsh has mastered the art of playing characters who feel lived-in and real. The industry keeps talking about “relatable actors.” Sparsh is already that. He needs projects that match his range.
⸻
Abhay Verma – The Wildcard
The audience loved him in Munjya, turning a horror-comedy into a sleeper hit. But his range was already on display in The Family Man 2 and Safed. If platforms and producers truly invest in him, he has the potential to become a leading man with mass AND craft.
⸻
Lakshya – The Relentless Fighter
Lakshya stormed into cinema with Kill, a raw, unhinged performance that had the intensity of a seasoned action star. There’s a hunger in his eyes, a willingness to go beyond mere presence and truly fight for a part—both physically and emotionally. If the right filmmakers put their faith in him, he could be Hindi cinema’s next great action
⸻
Raghav Juyal – The Unpredictable Wildcard
Raghav Juyal is not just a dancer, not just a comic, not just an actor—he’s instinct personified. In Kill, he was terrifyingly unpredictable and showed potential that went beyond dancing. He’s the kind of actor who, if given the space, will surprise us again and again. Hindi cinema needs to take more chances on actors like him—because when they deliver, they create magic.
⸻
What’s the missing piece?
Faith. Investment. Patience.
Producers: Think long-term. Stop chasing weekend box office numbers and start building talent that will bring audiences back for years.
Platforms: You have the data. Now, have some faith in talent and start backing actors, not algorithms.
Directors: Cast actors for the role, the skill, the depth. Not just familiarity. The audience is hungry for authentic, lived-in performances.
Hindi cinema doesn’t need saving—it needs a shift in priorities.
The formula is simple: invest in actors, not “stars.” Write without fear. Direct with conviction.
Written in good faith. Apologies in advance for any omissions or errors.
-HM”
He added, “The responses to this post from some within the industry have been largely positive—but mostly in private. And the reason is obvious. The moment you speak publicly about investing in talent, the usual noise begins: people masquerading as the “audience,” peddling box-office jargon, nepotism debates, and the illusion of “mass content” while doubling down on the same exhausted star system and number-chasing that got us here.
If anything, this obscene obsession with figures over films, commerce over craft, and spectacle over substance is exactly what needs to end for any real reset to even be possible.“
The director plans to share more posts, including lists of actresses and directors he wants to highlight, as well as more on how Hindi films can begin to find their way again, so watch this space for more!
