Jaya Bachchan: Bollywood is married to money these days

Veteran actress Jaya Bachchan, who recently attended a panel discussion at 18th Jio MAMI Film Festival, expressed her displeasure over lack of originality and obsession over box office figures in Bollywood these days.

“Filmmakers at that time, created art. Today, it’s a business and all about numbers. Everything is thrown at our face. People have forgotten subtlety. Open display of affection is considered smart… sharam naam ki toh cheese hee nahi hai (people are no longer ashamed). Now, it’s about big collections at the box office, Rs 100 crore films, first weekend collection… It’s all Greek to me,” she frowned.

The 68-year-old actress feels that content in Bollywood films is way too inspired by that of western cinema. But often, they do not represent the real India and its problems.

“I don’t know why. May be, they are richer countries and are considered more progressive. But I think the Indian mind is very progressive. People like ‘Aligarh’ and ‘Masaan’ because they show the real India and real problems of India,” Jaya sighs.

Also Read: Jaya Bachchan highlights the importance of woman education

“It’s Bollywood that is married to money. Bollywood is mostly made by Mumbai centric people influenced by the West, even their thought process is western. They look at western cinema. That’s why there are so many rip-offs (of western movies),” she adds.

Jaya was last seen in R Balki’s ‘Ki & Ka’ where she played a cameo.

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Ranjini Maitra

Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.