Filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap, who is known for Dabangg and Besharam, recently opened up about working with top actors and the power dynamics in Bollywood. In a recent interview, he didn’t hold back while criticising some of the industry’s biggest names, including Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan, sharing his personal experiences and observations.
‘Working with Aamir can be draining’
Recalling his experiences with Aamir Khan in ad films, Kashyap told Bollywood Thikana, “Wo sabse chaalaak lomdi hai. Batla. Wo Salman se bhi chota hai height me lekin kya manipulative aadmi hai. Aur sabse shaatir chor hai. I made 2-3 ads with Aamir. He is very particular, and working with him is exhausting; he drains you out. He interferes in everything — editing, direction, everything. It’s an entire ecosystem maintained for strict control.”He added, “Having worked so much, I observe that if Aamir gives 25 takes, his first and last are often the same. He watches each of his takes and then says, ‘One more, a little more, this is left, that is left,’ but ultimately, there’s nothing.”
On repeated collaborations
Kashyap also questioned why top filmmakers continue to work with the same stars. “Rajkumar Hirani is a very strong filmmaker and should move on to work with other actors and make his own films. But he still goes to Aamir. Rakesh Omprakash Mehra and Rajkumar Hirani — I respect them — they are very successful. So why do people keep meeting at Aamir Khan’s house? What is it in him that others don’t have?”
Observations on Saif Ali Khan
While Kashyap admitted he has never worked with Saif Ali Khan, he reflected on public attention around the actor and his family. “I’ve never met him, but I’ve seen the opposition when his son Taimur was born. The whole country was upset about Taimur. You couldn’t choose any other name, so they kept Taimur,” he said.
On industry impact and social contribution
Kashyap also spoke about how commercial success and societal contribution intersect. “The stars you talk about earn well and contribute to society. During floods, for example, what has Aamir Khan done? His biggest hit is Dangal, which was very successful. He claims he earned 2000 crore rupees from China,” he said.He further added, “I read somewhere that Mahavir Phogat, whose story inspired Dangal, requested to open an Akhada in Haryana for training children. But it was reported that Aamir Khan refused. How much does it cost to open an Akhada? All that money was for Mahavir Phogat’s story, so I understand he doesn’t owe him anything. Perhaps he paid for the rights.”
On creative control and direction
Kashyap highlighted how some actors extend their involvement beyond acting. “He has a hobby of directing and considers himself a great director. But he isn’t. He takes all the creative work from others, and just to say ‘action’ and ‘cut,’ he involves himself — this is his hobby,” he said.
