Bollywood actress Yami Gautam has ignited a crucial and fiery debate within the Indian film industry by publicly calling out a disturbing trend she describes as a form of "extortion." In a powerful social media statement, the actress condemned the growing practice of paying individuals and platforms to generate artificial hype for movies or to avoid fabricated negative coverage.
Yami Gautam's Hard-Hitting Statement Against Industry 'Plague'
Expressing thoughts she had held back for a long time, Yami Gautam posted a detailed note. She targeted what she called a "so-called trend of giving money, in the disguise of marketing a film, to ensure good 'hype' for a film is created or else 'they' will continuously write negative things." The actress did not mince words, stating that this practice feels nothing but kind of extortion.
Labeling this manipulation a "plague," Yami issued a stern warning about its potential consequences. She argued that if this culture becomes further normalized, it could severely damage the future of Indian cinema. The actress, who is also married to filmmaker Aditya Dhar, appealed for collective action. She urged producers, directors, and fellow actors to unite and stop this practice before it causes irreversible harm to the industry's ecosystem.
Hrithik Roshan Joins the Fray, Highlights Loss of 'True Voice'
Yami Gautam's bold stance found strong and immediate support from superstar Hrithik Roshan. Responding to her post, Roshan expressed deep appreciation for her speaking out and offered a critical reflection on the issue's core problem.
Hrithik focused on the loss of authentic critique, writing, “More than anything , the golden thing that gets lost and leaves them and all of us impoverished is the journalists true voice…” He emphasized that only genuine opinions provide the constructive feedback that helps artists and the industry evolve. Roshan stressed that manufactured responses strip journalists of their freedom and, in turn, deprive creators of the honest insights necessary for growth. He concluded that without this honesty, neither filmmakers nor journalists can find true fulfillment in their work.
A Larger Call for Unity and Change in Bollywood
In her note, Yami Gautam clarified that she was speaking from a dual perspective: as a member of the film fraternity and as the wife of a dedicated filmmaker. She highlighted the need to protect the industry environment for everyone who pours their heart into cinematic projects.
Drawing inspiration from the solidarity often seen in the southern Indian film industries, she called for similar unity within Bollywood to combat this unethical practice. This call for internal reform comes as Yami herself continues to be busy on the work front. She recently celebrated her 37th birthday on a film set. Notably, she and Hrithik Roshan have previously shared screen space in the film 'Kaabil'.
The public statements from these two prominent stars have successfully turned a spotlight on a controversial behind-the-scenes practice, pushing for a much-needed conversation about integrity, transparency, and the true cost of artificial hype in Bollywood.
