filmmaker Rakesh Roshan’s recent remarks about South Indian cinema have triggered a wave of criticism on social media, reigniting the South vs Bollywood debate. In an interview with Times Now, Roshan acknowledged the technical advancements in South cinema but criticised its storytelling approach, stating, “South films are very grounded. They continue with the old-school format of song-action-dialogue-emotions. They’re not progressing. Technically, they are, but storytelling-wise, they’re sticking to the same formulas that work. They’re successful because they’re not breaking any path.”
Roshan contrasted this with Bollywood’s approach, asserting that the Hindi film industry takes creative risks. “We are breaking paths,” he added. “After I made Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, I didn’t want to make romantic films again. Then I did Koi… Mil Gaya. After that, I made Rohit (Hrithik Roshan’s character) a superhero. These are the challenges we took. They don’t take risks. They play on safe grounds.”
The comments did not sit well with social media users, many of whom perceived them as dismissive and arrogant. On Reddit, one user commented, “Bollywood’s own arrogance is its downfall.” Another remarked, “Regional cinema is far more inventive than commercial Bollywood. Roshan likely doesn’t follow anything beyond popular cinema.”
Some X users cited films like Eega, where a housefly is the protagonist, to highlight South cinema’s creativity. “Can Bollywood produce a hit movie with a fly as the hero?” questioned a user. Others pointed out that Bollywood itself heavily relies on testosterone-driven action films like Jawan, Gadar 2, Pathaan, and Animal. “One Stree 2 doesn’t change that,” said another.
Amid the backlash, Roshan’s 2000 blockbuster Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai was re-released in cinemas to celebrate its 25 year anniversary. The romantic drama, which marked Hrithik Roshan and Ameesha Patel’s debuts, was a massive hit and catapulted both actors to stardom.
