Nana Patekar and Prakash Jha Decry Rising Star Entourages and AI Script Selection in Bollywood
In a candid conversation, veteran actor Nana Patekar and acclaimed director Prakash Jha have voiced strong concerns about the growing trend of large star entourages in Bollywood, which they claim significantly inflate film budgets and hinder creative collaboration. The discussion, which also featured actor Sanjay Kapoor, highlighted the challenges filmmakers face in today's industry landscape.
The Burden of Star Entourages on Film Budgets
Prakash Jha, known for directing politically charged films like Jai Gangaajal, Satyagraha, and Raajneeti, explained why many of his recent projects have opted for streaming platform releases instead of theatrical runs. Theatrical releases today heavily depend on big stars, but working with them has become increasingly complicated, Jha stated, pointing to the expanding networks of managers and corporate structures around actors as a primary reason for rising costs.
According to Jha, each additional layer in an actor's team adds to the overall production expense. All these layers who have been employed, the corporate, the management company, the creative company, managers, all these get a salary and which is why they have to show some work, he elaborated. These extra costs ultimately fall on producers, straining film budgets.
Jha shared a striking example to illustrate the issue: There is an actor these days who is accompanied by 27–28 people, a new actor in the industry, whose one film has worked, aspires to have this kind of a big entourage. His aspiration is just to have many people accompany him.
Decline of Direct Communication Between Actors and Directors
Nana Patekar, who stars in Jha's upcoming film Sankalp alongside Sanjay Kapoor, echoed these sentiments, lamenting the loss of direct interaction between actors and directors. Earlier you could talk to a star directly, but now it is not possible, Patekar remarked. Today we have to go through multiple people to meet the star. To meet the star, you first have to meet 100 people. You have to give the star the script and then he/she will direct you whether you should make this film or not. Releasing it on OTT is easy compared to this.
Patekar further noted that the camaraderie once shared between actors and directors has faded over time. He recounted asking Jha if certain actors ever called him, only to learn that their relationships were limited strictly to film projects. Prakash tells me that only I and Amitabh Bachchan call him, Patekar said, emphasizing the importance of personal connections beyond work.
In a lighthearted moment, Patekar questioned the lack of informal communication: Not to call for work. Just to ask how you are? This morning I called Abhishek. If you don't call and say I'm remembering you, how will they know?
Criticism of AI in Script Selection
The conversation also touched on the controversial use of artificial intelligence in evaluating film scripts. The interviewer mentioned an instance where an actor reportedly used ChatGPT to analyze a script, listing reasons for and against accepting the role. Reacting sharply, Nana Patekar humorously suggested, We should ask AI about such people as to why we shouldn't just slap them? Give 10 reasons? His witty remark drew laughter from all present.
Sanjay Kapoor Advocates for Direct Coordination
Actor Sanjay Kapoor, participating in the chat, expressed his preference for direct coordination with people rather than relying on managers. His stance underscores a growing desire within the industry for more straightforward and personal professional interactions.
This discussion sheds light on significant shifts in Bollywood, where corporate structures and technological tools are reshaping traditional filmmaking practices. As entourages grow and AI enters creative decision-making, veterans like Patekar and Jha call for a return to simpler, more direct collaborations to sustain the industry's artistic integrity.
