Shekhar Suman is currently promoting his latest web series, 'The Pyramid Scheme', and during a promotional interaction, he opened up about the dark side of old Bollywood. He also shared his views on how the industry has evolved and his unfiltered thoughts on money and power.
Shekhar Suman on Bollywood's Old Patterns
In a conversation with Mid-Day, Shekhar Suman discussed how the film industry used to function. He said, "I think the biggest advantage today is the freedom we have to tell stories."
The veteran actor added, "Earlier, filmmakers were often told that certain subjects wouldn't work and that films needed big stars and strong business propositions to get made. The entire system functioned that way." He further shared, "Today, however, there is far more creative freedom, and we can make the kind of content we truly believe in."
He criticized the rigid formula that once governed mainstream Hindi films, stating, "Films in the past were often confined to a comfort zone and reluctant to experiment." Talking about the industry's pattern, he said, "There was a fixed template: a hero, a heroine, songs, romance, a villain, and eventually a happy ending. The focus wasn't always on the story; it was often on how many stars the film could attract. Earlier, films were driven by actors, but now characters are being empowered by actors."
Shekhar Suman on Exploitation of Actors
In the same conversation, Shekhar Suman revealed that due to a lack of opportunities, many actors were exploited. He shared that producers used to pressure actresses to meet them at hotels and cafes against their will. He said, "Many talented people who may not have received opportunities in traditional cinema due to industry limitations and other circumstances. Earlier, there was exploitation in the film industry. Today, directors, producers, and writers enjoy the freedom to create and tell stories on their own terms."
Shekhar Suman on the Power of Money
Shekhar Suman also talked about how money has become the most powerful thing in the world. He said, "I think money is the biggest power in the world. Many brave men bowed down. You will see that in front of uneducated millionaires, educated people bow their heads and touch their feet because that is the power of money."
More About 'The Pyramid Scheme'
Directed by Shreyash Pandey with Ashish R Shukla, the web series features Paramvir Singh Cheema, Ranvir Shorey, Shekhar Suman, Aanjjan Srivastav, Alfia Jafry, and Vijay Kumar. It started streaming on Amazon Prime Video on June 5, 2026.
