Popular South Indian actor Dulquer Salmaan has shared some surprising and difficult experiences from his early days working in the Hindi film industry. Despite his established stardom in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu cinema, his foray into Bollywood was not a smooth ride.
The Struggle for Basic Respect on Set
In a recent candid roundtable discussion for The Hollywood Reporter India, Salmaan revealed that he often felt disregarded on the sets of Hindi films. He recounted instances where he and his small team of two people would get 'pushed around'. The actor, who made his Bollywood debut with the 2018 film Karwaan, stated that the sheer scale and culture of the industry sometimes led to this treatment.
He explained the pressure to project a certain image, saying, "I had to create this illusion of being this big star, otherwise I wouldn't find a chair to sit on." Salmaan elaborated that without an entourage or the perception of importance, even basic courtesies were hard to come by. "I wouldn't find a place to see behind the monitor, there were so many people. So, it's all about perception," he added.
Culture Clash and the 'Size' Factor
The actor pointed out a cultural difference he observed, suggesting that in Bollywood, arriving in a fancy car with a large team creates the immediate impression of a star. "It's sad, that's not the way my energy should go, right?" he remarked, indicating his preference for a more grounded approach to work.
Dulquer also discussed these observations with fellow actor Rana Daggubati. Together, they theorized that the massive size of the Hindi film industry—encompassing a vast number of theatres, markets, and states where the language is spoken—might influence such behavior. "We have just 1-2 states and we think like we are the big deal. Maybe, the size of the industry influences things," Salmaan shared, offering a perspective on why the environment felt different from the South Indian film industries he was accustomed to.
Looking Ahead: Current and Upcoming Projects
On the work front, Dulquer Salmaan was last seen in the Tamil period drama Kaantha. The film is scheduled to begin streaming on Netflix on December 12. His next project is the Malayalam film titled I'm Game, marking a return to his home industry.
Despite the initial hurdles in Bollywood, Salmaan continues to be a pan-India star, respected for his versatile performances across multiple languages. His honest revelations shed light on the unseen challenges actors can face when navigating different cinematic ecosystems.
