Current Bollywood trend is setting films up to flop: Abhay Deol

Actor believes Indian cinema needs to take cue from Netflix dramas like ‘Delhi Crime’ to survive

The Hindi film industry is still running behind the usual "formula-based” content, leading to a new trend of flops, says Abhay Deol. According to the actor, the web space is a "God sent opportunity" for everyone to push the envelope for diversity and originality in world of entertainment, reported Business Standard.

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Asked if content on digital platforms can overshadow cinema and theatre culture, Abhay said: "If you see what happened in Hollywood, their dramas became so good on TV that now, you only see superhero films releasing (in theatres) as cinema is all about a spectacle. People want to see something grand and large scale, and superhero films are hard to beat in that sense. But if you want to watch good drama, then you watch it on HBO or Netflix.”



"But over here (in India), what's interesting is that, I guess because films have never actually gone beyond the formula... Now, what is happening is that our drama will improve, no doubt. Like Delhi Crime is a huge achievement for Indian shows, but I also think there are expectations for Bollywood to match up,” he continued. “Now, when you see Bollywood films, the trend is for them to flop, really," added the 43-year-old.

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Abhay himself was a part of Shah Rukh Khan’s last release Zero, which fell flat at the box office. The actor, who opened the floodgates for quirky alternative cinema in Bollywood with films like Dev D, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye, Manorama Six Feet Under and Road, Movie believes the modern audience is done with "larger in life stories" in Hindi films.

"It's because they are watching actors performing roles that are heroic but you believe them as they look like you, act like you and act real,” he added. “Now, suddenly, they are spoiled as they are like, 'Okay, I want to watch that in films now.’ The larger-than-life candy floss is far too diabetic for me. That's what I think is happening."

Abhay says that if anything if anything was offered to him for TV, he would say no without even thinking about it. PHOTO: FILE

Abhay has ventured into the web space with Netflix's Chopsticks. So what does he find different about it? The Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara star asserted that the digital platform's formula is "about diversity, being provocative, original and so, for any artiste that matters, it's an opportunity."



He said, "It saves a lot of people and will also throw in diversity in our own industry. That’s something we desperately need or else, we will continue making the three films we have been making for the past 70 years."

In Chopsticks, Abhay will be seen playing a conman alongside starlet Mithila Palkar. And they have a third co-star: A goat.

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The upcoming flick will not be the first time Abhay will be seen playing a conman, though. It is a role he memorably played in Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! "This character is far more suave and urban from the Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! one. And for him, stealing is something he does with a passion. It's something he's good at."

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