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Paresh Rawal Defends Shah Rukh Khan
He said, “There will be successful films which a section may call 'ghatiya (terrible)', but I believe that is unfair.”
The veteran actor continued, “Those films are successful because the audience likes them. Who are you to call their taste terrible? You can say what works or doesn't work for you, but how can you expect the same blanket taste for everyone? This is fascism of another kind.”
He further gave examples of Shah Rukh Khan’s megablockbusters Pathaan and Jawan and said, “It is an easy way out to dunk on popular cinema. For example, if a commercial film like Pathaan (2023) hits the screens and becomes a success, that isn't stopping you from making what you think constitutes as 'good cinema'. Please do it if you feel like it. What's the point of abusing films like Pathaan or Jawan (2023)? It is absolutely pointless.”
He also credited filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap for changing Hindi cinema and said, “According to me, Anurag Kashyap is a big game-changer. Because of him, a new wave of writers, directors, and mind-blowing actors have come in. Today there's also OTT which has changed the mindset of producers as well as the audience. Who would have thought a film like Laapataa Ladies (could get made)?”
Directed by Anant Narayan Mahadevan, The Storyteller is based on one of the short stories by legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. It also stars Adil Hussain, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Revathy.
The film is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.