Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah criticized a current trend in Indian cinema, targeting films that glorify hyper-masculinity. Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival, Shah expressed his disappointment with mainstream Hindi films, describing them as “sickening” for their portrayal of exaggerated male dominance, and the belittling of female characters.
Shah, known for his roles in films like Nishant and Aakrosh, questioned whether the success of these films reflects society’s values, or merely indulges the hidden fantasies of men who harbor misogynistic views. “Films that celebrate masculinity while undermining femininity are not just disturbing,” Shah remarked, “they’re a terrifying indicator of our societal norms.”
Words and waves collide on the shores of Kozhikode Beach at Kerala Literature Festival 2025!
Prominent personalities like Fred Nevché, May-Elin Steiner, Naseeruddin Shah and Prakash Raj, lit the stage on Day 1, kicking off a celebration of stories and ideas.… pic.twitter.com/i2PCmfTtPI
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He stressed on the mutual influence between cinema and society, suggesting that films of today serve as a mirror to the audience’s psyche. He said, “The really important function of cinema is to act as a record of its times. Those are the most valuable films because these films will be seen 100 years later and, if 100 years later, people want to know what India of 2025 was like, and they find a Bollywood film, that would be a big tragedy.”
His comments come at a time when Bollywood is criticized for its content, with some films accused of promoting toxic masculinity and regressive gender roles. Shah said that the popularity of such films is alarming, as it might explain the increasing incidents of violence against women in India.
He added, “I think the films which feed into the secret fantasies of men, who in their heart of hearts, look down on women, are being fed and it’s actually very scary to see how much approval such films get from the common viewer. It’s very terrifying and it does explain the horrendous things that happen to women in a lot of places in our county.”
In his conversation with actor Parvathy Thiruvothu, Shah also admitted to having taken on roles in the past purely for financial reasons; roles he now regrets. However, he considers himself fortunate that these films have largely been forgotten by audiences.
Speaking about this, Shah said, “I have also done some movies, which I did only for the money, that’s the simple truth. I don’t think that one needs to be ashamed of working for money; I mean, what do we all do? But those are jobs I regret. Fortunately, people don’t remember the bad work you did. As an actor, they only remember the good things you did.” In conclusion, Shah said he fears that the celebration of hyper-masculinity in cinema might perpetuate negative stereotypes and behaviors in real life.
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