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The Hindi film industry is still running behind the usual formula based content leading to a new trend of flops, says actor Abhay Deol, who believes the web space is a “Godsent opportunity” for everyone to push the envelope for diversity and originality in the entertainment world.
Asked if content on digital platforms can overshadow cinema and theatre culture, Abhay told IANS here: “If you see what happened in Hollywood, their drama became so good on TV that now you only see superhero films releasing (in theatres) as cinema has become all about a spectacle. People want to see something grand and large scale, and superhero films are hard to beat in that sense. But if you want to watch good drama, then you watch it on HBO or Netflix.
“Whereas over here (in India), what’s interesting that I am finding is that I guess because films have never actually gone beyond the formula… Now, what is happening is that our drama will improve, no doubt…like Delhi Crime is a huge achievement for Indian shows, but I also think there are expectations for Bollywood to match up.”
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“Now, when you see the Bollywood films, the trend is for them to flop, really,” added the 43-year-old actor, who was himself a part of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Zero which fell flat.
Abhay, who opened the floodgates for quirky alternative cinema in Bollywood with films like Dev.D, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, Manorama Six Feet Under and Road, Movie said the audience is done with “larger in life stories” in Hindi films.
“It’s because… people are watching actors performing roles that are heroic but you believe them as they look like you, act like you and act real… Now, suddenly they are spoiled as they are like, ‘Okay, I want to watch that in films now’… The larger-than-life candyfloss is far too diabetic for me. That’s what I think is happening,” added the actor, who has ventured into the web space with Netflix’s film Chopsticks.