AvinashTiwary takes a dig at 60-year-olds in Bollywood

The actor recently spoke about Bollywood’s focus on box office success and physical appearances.

Recently, during a chat, Bollywood actor AvinashTiwary called out 60-year-old actors and the industry’s obsession with box-office numbers and six pack abs. He called out the disconnect between talent and audience support and pointed out that performers like Manoj Bajpayee, Vikrant Massey, and Pratik Gandhi are often labelled “underrated” yet fail to draw massive crowds to theatres.

AvinashTiwary takes a dig at Bollywood’s obsession with box office numbers and six-pack abs.

The actor, in a chat with SiddharthKannan, pointed out that actors like Manoj Bajpayee, Vikrant Massey, and Pratik Gandhi, among others, are often called underrated, yet not many watch their films in theatres. He compared how South celebrates its actors and their films, and Hollywood celebrates the talent and craft, unlike in Bollywood. He said, “Aapkokahinpebhi, kisi industry mein… I know I might get flak for this, par kahinpebhi 60 saalke log 6-pack, 8-pack banakeghoomrahehain? (Anywhere, in any industry… I know I might get flak for this, but where else do you see 60-year-olds walking around with six-pack or eight-pack abs?) Even in Hollywood, Arnold Schwarzenegger is not doing that, Sylvester Stallone… there is no need to. There is no vanity or desirability that needs to be sold off. Not even in the South, why is it only in the Hindi film industry? That is a question we all need to answer.”

“There’s no value for the skill, craft.”

Avinash added, “There’s no value for the skill, craft. Audience baithke box office numbers dekhrahihai. Kahanhotahaiyeh sab? Main 20 saal se acting karrahahoon (Audience is looking at box office numbers. Where else does this happen? I have been acting for 20 years), and there are various projects that I have done, and we can always debate what is good and bad. I’m talking about others who are universally accepted. If we are not putting value here, then what are we putting value on? Someone just takes their shirt off, one photo is clicked, and there is so much buzz. If it’s only about looks, films should just have models. We are selling obsession.”

Netizens, since his interview, think Avinash pointed to the Khans of Bollywood and took a jibe at them. On Reddit, where the video clip of Avinash’s interview was shared, fans criticised him, calling the jibe unnecessary.