Shahbaz Khan slams Bollywood’s casting practices after being denied better opportunities: ‘People in South industry work with discipline…’

Actor Shahbaz Khan is known for playing some memorable villainous roles in the 1990s in Bollywood, and the actor has voiced concerns about the changing dynamics in the entertainment industry that have left many senior actors on the sidelines. In a recent interview, he criticised casting practices and the influence of corporates on the creative aspects of filmmaking.Shahbaz about limited opportunitiesDuring a conversation with the YouTube channel Just Baat, Shahbaz opened up about the limited opportunities he and his contemporaries are receiving today.“Casting directors have their favourites, and they call old actors like me—who worked extensively in the 1990s—overexposed. This is wrong. Those who are truly overexposed are the actors being cast in every other OTT show. Some actors are such that the audience doesn’t want to see them, yet they are forced upon them. The new-age casting directors and actors think of themselves as no less than Dilip Kumar. They see themselves as the biggest actors,” he shared.

Making movie’s for commercial aspectHe also highlighted how the influx of corporate funding has altered the industry’s priorities, shifting the focus from creativity to commercialism. According to him, this has inflated actor salaries while sidelining the passion and artistic spirit that once defined filmmaking. “Old actors started with less money, but at that time the value of money was greater. Currently, actors may be paid more, but their expenses are also higher. The economy has changed. Purane actors ne bhi maal banake rakha hai. Sab set hai. But they are not getting work now.” He further added that films are becoming ‘money-minting machines’, and creativity is no longer their priority.Shahbaz about South Industry Shahbaz also revealed that he has worked on a few projects in the South Indian film industry. He praised their work ethic and organisation, citing his experience of being treated with utmost professionalism. “People in the South industry work with a lot of discipline and passion. They would call me at 6 a.m. for a 7 a.m. shoot, saying the car is ready,” he recounted.He later shared that Dilip Kumar once advised him to be like clay on set, fully surrendering to the director’s vision, stay surrounded by positive and knowledgeable individuals, and maintain a spiritual connection with god to become a truly good actor.