Recently, seasoned actors Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty spoke about this on The Great Indian Kapil Show. Both of them are famous for their long years of friendship and for being part of various multi-starrer films together. They discussed how insecurity is the key reason why multi-starrers have faded in recent times. In a frank discussion, they not only shared the turnaround in the industry but also spoke about humility, respect, and teamwork being crucial in maintaining a long career in cinema.
Bollywood is always more than films; it’s an emotion, a segment of Indian culture that brings people together—families, friends, generations. For decades, Hindi cinema provided us with the classic films where multiple major stars would feature alongside each other and weave magic on screen. Whether it was Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra in Sholay, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in Karan Arjun, or Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty in various 90s action blockbusters, multi-starrers were the real Indian cinema celebration. These movies had it all – drama, action, comedy, romance, and most importantly, the excitement of seeing a slew of powerhouses on the same screen.
But these days, these movies are rare. The majority of current releases are solo-hero films or one-actor franchise films. Though they succeed at times, they cannot match the same magic of multi-starrers. The question in everyone’s mind is: why has Bollywood deserted multi-starrers when people still enjoy them?
Sanjay Dutt Identifies the Source – Insecurity
Told why multi-starrers are not produced as frequently these days, Sanjay Dutt replied categorically: “I feel there is too much insecurity today.” His words struck a chord with everyone because they brought out a truth that fans hardly get to hear.
While he was at his prime, Dutt shared screen space with legends such as Dilip Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, and Shammi Kapoor. Rather than feeling insecure, he treated each project as a learning opportunity. In his opinion, there was no feeling of rivalry; to the contrary, actors at that time respected each other’s presence and cherished collective success. He reminisced about how it enriched his craft and instilled confidence in him to work with senior actors.
This willingness to learn and impart was one of the largest reasons why multi-starrers in the past were so effective. Nowadays, however, he believes that most young actors are afraid to work on such movies because they do not want to give up the center stage.
Suniel Shetty's Take – Learning by Watching Seniors
Suniel Shetty, an actor who joined the film industry without any acting training, wholeheartedly concurred with Sanjay Dutt. He shared how he depended on established actors in his early days in order to work on his craft. Observing celebrities like Dutt taught him aspects of performance, body language, and on-screen presence.
To Shetty, the 90s were the days when actors really valued one another’s talent. Although every aspiring young actor wanted to be the next Amitabh Bachchan, there was this humility and camaraderie on sets. He admitted that fame is never as rosy as it appears from the outside world, and success is a process of constant learning and teamwork.
His quote captures the significance of mentorship in Bollywood, something that appears to be a disappearing act with the passage of time.
The Golden Period of Bollywood Multi-Starrers
In retrospect, it’s impossible not to notice how multi-starrers defined the identity of Bollywood. Films such as Amar Akbar Anthony, Khalnayak, Hum, Border, and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham weren’t only hits; they were cultural touchstones. Fans enjoyed seeing their favorite stars unite, dishing out iconic dialogues, action-packed sequences, and heart-wrenching moments.
Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty were themselves a part of numerous such movies that characterized the 90s and early 2000s. They were as popular on-screen as off-screen as friends. These movies portrayed that when stars join hands rather than competing with one another, the outcome is cinema magic.
Now, though the industry has developed in terms of technology and budgets, it has lost this team spirit. Multi-starrers are unheard of, and whatever releases rarely brings forth the old charm due to ego clashes and unequal screen space.
Dutt's Advice to the Younger Generation of Actors
Sanjay Dutt also had some advice to impart to present-day actors. He lamented the unhealthy attitude where certain actors wish secretly for other co-stars’ films to fail. Such internal competition, he felt, only speaks poorly about the industry. “What do we have against ourselves that we want the other guy’s film not to work? All films should work,” he recalled, reminding everyone that success in Bollywood is woven together.
He also stressed the need for humility, stating that one blockbuster film is not a career. Most new actors get inflated after experiencing success, but the greatest test is to survive and remain in the business for decades. “The more humble you are, the further you’ll go,” he clarified, going on to issue a challenge to new actors to last 40 years in the business, which he and most of his peers have done.
The Lost Culture of Mentorship
Dutt and Shetty highlighted the fact that actors today have to treat their seniors as mentors and not rivals. Bollywood has always been a culture where legends guided and molded the path of younger superstars. Whether Amitabh Bachchan’s generation inspired the 80s generation or Sanjay Dutt guided the stars of the 90s, this knowledge exchange kept the industry alive.
Unfortunately, insecurity has taken the place of this culture. Rather than soaking up knowledge, most actors are concerned with safeguarding their image, social media image, or box office figures. This mindset not only detracts from the development of individual actors but also depletes the collective strength of Bollywood.
Why Audiences Still Love Multi-Starrers
From the people’s side, the passion for multi-starrers has never dissipated. Seeing two or more of the biggest stars on screen together is always thrilling. It provides audiences with twice the entertainment, twice the drama, and also twice the nostalgia. This is exactly why multi-starrer movies like Dil Dhadakne Do, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, or even Gully Boy made such a splash in recent years.
The market for multi-starrers is definitely there, but lack of courage by actors to put aside their ego is what’s needed. If current stars open up to collaboration, then Bollywood can once again produce the golden days of sweeping multi-starrer films.
Can Multi-Starrers Make a Comeback?
The question is if and when Bollywood will go back to the multi-starrer trend. Having looked at the shifting landscape, the emergence of OTT platforms, and changing audience tastes, there is certainly space for ensemble films. But the question is how to overcome ego wars and insecurity.
If actors start realizing the value of collaboration over competition, multi-starrers can easily find their spot back in the industry. Cinema, after all, is a collaborative effort, and audiences adore nothing more than seeing their favorite stars light up the same screen together.
Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty’s conversation on The Great Indian Kapil Show is not mere nostalgia, but an wake-up call to the next generation of thespians. Their words underscore the value of humility, mentorship, and shared growth in keeping a film industry as multiplex and competitive as Bollywood’s going.
Multi-starrers might have fallen out of favor because of insecurity, but the public is still hungry for them. Perhaps if present-day actors draw some inspiration from such veterans as Dutt and Shetty, Bollywood might witness again films that heralded the spirit of togetherness and cooperation. For after all, the alchemy of cinema is not in a single star shining by himself, but in many stars uniting to create a cosmos that the fans will treasure for decades to come.
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