Mohan Kapur recently opened up about Bollywood superstars, the evolving expectations of audiences, and why even iconic figures like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar cannot sustain their careers without compelling scripts. Drawing a vivid analogy, he compared repetitive films to eating biryani every day and emphasized that no actor is bigger than a well-crafted story.
Mohan Kapur on Salman Khan’s box office struggles
During a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Kapur was asked whether Salman Khan has become trapped in his larger-than-life superstar persona, especially given the underwhelming performance of some of his recent films at the box office. Responding thoughtfully, Kapur said, “I’m not an expert, but the way you framed the question, I think you are right.” He elaborated that stars like Salman, Shah Rukh, and Aamir Khan have achieved such monumental stature that audiences eventually crave something different from them. “If you feed someone biryani every day, one day they’ll say they don’t want biryani anymore, just give me soup,” he remarked.
‘You can’t write Salman Khan off’
Addressing Salman’s current phase, Kapur noted that every superstar experiences ups and downs. He pointed out that even Shah Rukh Khan faced a difficult period before films like Pathaan and Jawan brought audiences flocking back. “Maybe Salman is going through that lean phase right now in terms of stories and choices, but you can’t write him off,” Kapur asserted.
Mohan Kapur advocates for age-appropriate roles
When asked whether superstars should transition to age-appropriate characters instead of clinging to their established images, Kapur agreed wholeheartedly. However, he acknowledged that outsiders can only speculate about the internal dilemmas stars face. He explained that actors might fear that stepping away from their iconic personas could negatively impact the industry financially, as films headlined by stars like Shah Rukh and Salman still generate massive revenue and employment opportunities.
‘No actor is bigger than a good script’
Kapur firmly asserted that scripts hold greater importance than stardom. “There is no actor, no star that is greater than a good script,” he stated emphatically. He added, “A good script can make Mohan Kapur an actor. A bad script, even Shah Rukh Khan cannot salvage.” Kapur stressed that while the industry frequently discusses the need for good writing, only a few consistently follow through.
Mohan Kapur defends stars experimenting with films
When questioned about whether audiences now expect actors like Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan to completely immerse themselves in roles, Kapur identified repetition as the core issue. “We know they are good actors. But show us something different too,” he said. He praised Akshay Kumar for films like Patiala House and Good Newwz, noting that audiences appreciate actors when they attempt fresh projects. Kapur also defended Shah Rukh Khan for venturing into unconventional films like Fan and Zero. “People didn’t accept those films, but at least he tried different characters and scripts,” he remarked.
‘It’s unfair to say a star is finished’
Towards the end of the discussion, Kapur observed that audiences themselves sometimes contribute to stars’ insecurity by rejecting experiments and later demanding novelty. “If actors try something different and audiences reject it, obviously they become insecure,” he explained. He concluded by stating that it is unfair to immediately label a superstar as “finished” after a few unsuccessful films. “Give them a chance to try new things,” he urged.
This insightful commentary offers a nuanced perspective on the dynamics between stardom, audience expectations, and the enduring power of storytelling in Bollywood.
