Abhay Deol criticises the mindset that India Is 'Too Poor and Uneducated' for Refined Cinema

Abhay Deol has recently expressed his thoughts with the prevailing mindset in India that the country is "too poor and uneducated" to produce sophisticated Film. Reflecting on his own experiences growing up watching international cinema, he questioned why India couldn’t create similar films and why the bar seemed so low for Indian audiences. He revealed that when he raised this issue, he was told that the audience needed to be "spoon-fed" due to the country’s perceived lack of education and resources.

In an interview with a magazine, Deol spoke candidly about the simplicity of characters in Indian films during the 1980s and 1990s, a period he describes as largely focused on the stereotypical hero-heroine formula. While watching international films, he was struck by the complexity and depth of characters in foreign cinema, which often explored their backgrounds and motivations in ways Indian films rarely did at the time. Deol wondered why Indian cinema did not embrace a similar approach, noting that while the industry has evolved, the films of that era lacked the richness and nuance he saw in international films.

He questioned why Indian films didn’t explore characters' backgrounds and cultures as deeply. While he acknowledged that the industry has evolved over time, he reflected on the lack of depth in films from that era.

The Bun Tikki actor shared how he was once told that Indian audiences needed to be 'spoon-fed' because the country was considered 'poor and uneducated'. He said, "What we were being told is our country is very poor, it’s not educated so you have to spoon-feed them."

Abhay was advised to offer escapist cinema to uplift them from their 'miserable lives'. However, Abhay disagreed with this mindset, asserting that if the audience is continuously treated this way, nothing will change, as films play a crucial role in shaping culture. "I just wanted to say, but if we continue to treat them like that, they will never because films create culture," he said. 

The actor acknowledged the pioneering efforts of actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, who initiated a shift in Indian cinema. He mentioned how, in his own way, he followed their lead with films such as DevD, Manorama Six Feet Under, and Oye Lucky Lucky Oye. Abhay emphasized that his focus was primarily on creative battles rather than being caught up in competition.

On the professional front, Abhay Deol is set to appear in the upcoming film Bun Tikki, which features veteran actresses Zeenat Aman and Shabana Azmi. The two actresses are reuniting for the first time in 40 years. Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, the film is produced by Manish Malhotra's Stage 5 Productions in collaboration with Jio Studios.