Jay Shetty urges Hollywood to embrace faith and spirituality in storytelling

The life coach highlighted lack of shows focusing on identity, healing, and belonging

At the recent second annual Variety Faith and Spirituality in Entertainment Honours, Jay Shetty took centre stage, urging Hollywood to rethink the kinds of stories it tells. In a heartfelt address, he said, “In a world where we’re promised all these false Gods, there’s a deep need for storytellers who explore faith, spirituality, and the universal search for purpose.”

Shetty, who last year was an honoree at the same event, returned this time as host, a role he jokingly acknowledged as a sign of “momentum.” He explained that he aimed to spotlight creators who dare to grapple with questions of identity, inner life, healing, and belonging — subjects he argues remain rare in mainstream film and television. 

“We have 10 shows about murderers, five about dragons… but stories that explore inner life? Identity? Belonging? Healing? Almost none,” he noted.

He described faith-centred media not as niche or religious propaganda, but as “the kind of storytelling that passes down wisdom,” now delivered through modern screens instead of ancient drawings. His own journey, from monkhood to social-media motivational figure, author, and podcast host, positions him as someone bridging spiritual tradition with contemporary culture.

Shetty believes that voices capable of weaving spirituality and introspection into entertainment deserve recognition, support, and space. “When we recognise and elevate the individuals who are courageous enough to bring these themes to the forefront … we help shift the culture toward greater authenticity, diversity and depth,” he said.

As the industry continues to wrestle with formulaic trends and blockbuster-driven content, Shetty’s message stands as a call to creators, executives, and audiences alike: that sometimes the stories with the most impact are those that don’t chase spectacle, but soul.