Manoj Bajpayee believes star system has ruined cinema

Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee feels that the star system in the Indian film industry has significantly hampered quality cinema. In a recent interview, Bajpayee highlighted that exhibitors and distributors prioritise stars over the content of a film, reported Hindustan Times.

Manoj said that small films are often given ‘step-motherly treatment’ when the focus is on stars and that his films have faced this.

“As far as the star system is concerned, it has done more damage than good to the quality and content. Now the young stars are focusing again on the content. When the exhibitors and distributors start concentrating on stars what happens is the quality films and small films start getting step-motherly treatment. My films have faced this,” he was quoted as saying.

While he is cynical on OTT platforms possibly ending the star system, the Gangs of Wasseypur star hopes that new talent continues to be encouraged.

“Whether it is cinema viewing or OTT or TV, people will find their stars. They find their favourites and they become their star. How big those stars will be? Will they be big like the ones we have since Covid-19 came in? I don’t know. I just hope that the star system doesn’t become an obstruction to the new upcoming talents,” he added.

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