At the time when I was at the peak of my career in Bollywood, we never had social media to give us a direct sense of our popularity, the excitement among fans and their appreciation.
I so hate the term Bollywood. I know it’s become synonymous with the industry but really we are ‘Indian cinema.’
I won’t say there aren’t ‘smart’ roles for women, but the variety is limited. I feel the real representation is not widely available in Bollywood.
If I can do anything to help Bollywood by being in politics, I think it’s worth my while.
I’m very talkative and I’m very chatty but, you know, you can’t exactly with Imran Khan. You can’t discuss the colour of the curtains; you can only talk politics. You cannot exactly discuss Bollywood films with him. God knows I tried.
There is a sense of purity in theatre which always attracts me. Deep down, I feel I am more of an artist than a commodity, which Bollywood turns you into. I want to strike a balance.
I was never desperate to work in Bollywood though I aspired to do a movie across the border but only if I was offered a strong character and a main lead.
IPL is a T20 franchise tournament combining cricket and Bollywood to offer entertainment.
Raashi is a lovely co-star, and we’re having so much fun working together. We were talking about how our careers in Bollywood were launched by John Abraham.
I would be stupid to say no to Bollywood. It is the biggest film industry in our country.
I can never forget Sridevi’s determination to make it big in Bollywood.
Singers are definitely getting their due in Bollywood. I feel that music composers, on the other hand, tend to lose out on the popularity, fame, and success that singers usually enjoy.
I mean… yes, I have sung some really nice songs in Bollywood, and I have been lucky to sing them, but I am happy with the independent music space that I have created so far.
I want to do masala movies. I love the Bollywood films that we are known for. I love the whole song and dance act.
I spent half my life in a boarding school where we were shown only the sporadic wholesome classic like ‘The Sound Of Music.’ So, I am not familiar with most of the works of the acting greats in Bollywood, Hollywood, or Tamil-Telugu cinema.
I am definitely interested in doing films in Bollywood. And not only in Hindi – I am open to working anywhere in the country, even if it is Punjabi.
I am greedy for both Hollywood and Bollywood. For me, Bollywood is not new, as it is something that I grow up on… I know the plot… stories and characters that are written and made. I haven’t got the right opportunity to show my work in Bollywood.
I think there is an immense charm and humanity about the Bollywood structure, probably in the way there was about Hollywood film in the ’30s and ’40s. Somehow they were less distracted about hardware, and more about production values and people, you know?
In South India, the audience is more traditional than the Bollywood cine-goers.
Bollywood is not a stepping stone to the West. I am extremely picky and in no hurry to sign a Hollywood film. I am only greedy for great roles; language and country is no barrier. And yes, I’ll always be a Hindi film star first.
I had a very good experience while working in regional films. I have been very fortunate that way. There is no doubt that the South Indian film industry is very much at par with Bollywood.
When I think of Bollywood dance, I think of choreographies from the ’70s and ’80s. That was true Bollywood, what is now known as old school Bollywood.
Acting is closed and ‘Dabanng’ will be my last film as an actor in Bollywood. I don’t know, it does not excite me anymore and I have always believed I am a limited actor.
I listen to jazz, Western classical, contemporary, Bollywood and heavy metal.
I’d love to do a romantic comedy. And perhaps, if the character was right and I had a good gut instinct, a Bollywood movie. And I’d love to direct. One day. I’m learning a lot on the set of ‘The Good Wife.’
Patience is the name of the game in Bollywood.
India should not have any ties with Pakistan, be it Bollywood or cricket. I am shocked that Bollywood is saying that cricket and movies should be kept ahead of national sentiments.
I did not have any Bollywood connection and it was difficult to find a footing in the industry. But I was pleasantly surprised when Red Chillies hired a newcomer like me.
I like Telugu movies, then comes Bollywood and then English movies. In Tollywood, I like Mahesh Babu and Prabhas. But no, I don’t watch all their movies. I first find out if the movie is nice. If it’s a flop, I don’t watch it.
I know, in India, specially in Bollywood and the sports fraternity, there is a lot of negative media attention on prominent public figures.
I know I’m not the consummate Bollywood heroine. But I’m working hard on it.
Acting happened to me by chance. Even I’m surprised how a man from a small village, Belsand, in Gopalganj district has reached Bollywood.
I was part of the Bollywood film ‘Strikers,’ which I would call a niche film.
I want to be a part of content-driven films, not just the mainstream Bollywood type of movies.
I had started with Bollywood and then I shifted to Bhojpuri films to create my own identity there.
The idea of being associated with Bollywood prompted me to get into DVD distribution.
Several southern actors are coming to Mumbai. Likewise, many Bollywood actors are appearing down South or borrowing ideas from southern films.
The main reason I didn’t work in Bollywood was due to the tremendous pressure on me in Bengal.
Bollywood is a different ballgame. I am quite used to Tamil and Telugu films.
The top Bengali directors in Bollywood know about me and the work that I have done. I have worked with everyone, from Anurag Basu, Pradeep Sarkar to Shoojit Sircar.
Horror comedy – very rare in Bollywood.
Bollywood movies ignore screenplay, if you notice whichever movie is a hit has an interesting screenplay.
My mom and I never thought that I would make my way into Bollywood. I was happy doing films down south.
I’m not that familiar with bhangra or Bollywood music. Maybe it’s just a reaction that kids have, that you don’t really listen to stuff your parents listened to. I didn’t think it was cool.
There are cliques in Bollywood, and people stick together, but I have always tried to stick to my work. As an industry, Bollywood is very competitive, and I’m very competitive as a person, but I’ve never been a part of any clique, and I’ve always worked with all actors and directors, all camps.
I started my journey in Bollywood with a Rajkumar Santoshi film. Then I worked with noted directors like J P Dutta, Prakash Jha and Ketan Mehta.
There are quality films being made in all languages, whether in Hindi cinema, Bengali or the south. Bollywood doesn’t represent Indian cinema, per say.
In Bollywood, they’ve got their systems in place. It’s a monster machine that’s churning out, like, 400 films a year, consistently. They’re able to efficiently process things.
Things work very differently in Bollywood. There is a lot of camping there.
In India we are creating mainstream hip hop music, than what real rap music is. The lyrics aren’t that personal, since most of the music is catering to Bollywood. It’s just trivial. It’s a fashion here.
I was very sure I did not want to be the stereotype of what Indian people are seen as, which is Bollywood and henna. That’s all great! It’s what we are, and I love it. I love saris; I love music. I love henna; I love dancing, but that’s not all we are.
Unfortunately in Bollywood, if your film is a flop, your acting is considered flop too.
In South, the actresses are expected to be fuller, unlike Bollywood. The sensibilities are totally different.
If you look good, you can act in a Bollywood movie, you don’t have to be able to act; and Aishwarya Rai is a great example of this. She is a beautiful woman… You look at her, I want to look at her. Damn, she is fine; but stop acting or stop trying to act.
I am interested in Bollywood. Everyone wants to do bigger and better work. I also want to do good work.
Bollywood is a great place. You can expect support for award ceremonies, weddings, and funerals.
Nepotism exists – not just in Bollywood but in every profession in India.
I do not wish to do usual things like Bollywood songs or so.
If one tries to expose the Harvey Weinsteins of Bollywood, some very big empires and icons will fall down. My nephew was a victim of one of those. But who will fight their muscle? You need many Kangana Ranauts for that.
I enjoy independent music, even more than Bollywood.
Bottom line is, off-beat film or commercial films, Tollywood or Bollywood, it’s the role that matters to me.
If Madhur Bhandarkar makes a movie tomorrow, people will expect him to do something like ‘Chandni Bar’ or ‘Corporate!’ Similarly, it takes time for filmmakers to break that stereotype and attempt something new – it is difficult for filmmakers to be versatile in Bollywood.
I’m a proud mainstream musician, but having said that, I do firmly believe there’s more to musical talent in India than just Bollywood.
I have not tried enough to be in Bollywood.
