“Korean films are better than Bollywood,” says Naseeruddin Shah; urges to focus on quality not commerce

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah sparked a conversation at a recent Mumbai event with his critical assessment of contemporary Bollywood films.

In a thought-provoking statement, veteran Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah recently shared his views on the current state of Hindi cinema, contrasting it with the rise of Korean films. Speaking at an event in Mumbai, Shah expressed his preference for Korean cinema over what is commonly referred to as “Bollywood.”

“Korean films are better than Bollywood,” says Naseeruddin Shah; urges to focus on quality not commerce

The veteran actor suggested that the popularity of Hindi films might be short-lived due to their focus on commercial gains rather than meaningful storytelling. He elaborated, stating, "Korean films are better than Bollywood films... We keep claiming that the whole world is watching Bollywood films. First of all, I hate the word 'Bollywood.’”

He further elaborated, “Just like Indian food is gaining fame worldwide due to its inherent qualities, Bollywood films are said to be gaining fame. However, I guarantee that this bubble will burst one day because these films lack substance and are made with motives everyone is aware of."

Naseeruddin Shah remains a prominent figure in Indian cinema. He was recently seen alongside Aamir Khan, Sonali Bendre, and others at a screening celebrating 25 years of the film Sarfarosh. At the event he recalled, “Even today, I get messages on Facebook that ‘Tum asli Gulfam Hasan ho!’” Naseeruddin then remarked, “Sabse zyada khushi ki baat yeh hai ki Pakistan mein Sarfarosh bahut pasand ki jaati hai.”

Naseeruddin Shah continued, “People in Pakistan love the film a lot. Though I haven’t been there in a long time. But earlier, whenever I visited the country, Sarfaorsh was always mentioned. I was shocked. Mujhe laga tha joote maarenge mujhe (laughs)!”

Speaking of the professional front, the 73-year-old actor was last seen in Disney+ Hotstar’s series Showtime.

Also Read: Sarfarosh’s 25th anniversary screening: “I get messages on Facebook that ‘Tum asli Gulfam Hasan ho’; Sabse zyada khushi ki baat yeh hai ki Pakistan mein film bahut pasand ki jaati hai” – Naseeruddin Shah