Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan was pretty candid about the issues plaguing the Hindi film industry. At an event in Mumbai on Sunday, the director of Masaan gave a shout-out to South Indian cinema for its 'authenticity' and pointed out that Bollywood, on the other hand, often lacks that 'real' vibe.

Neeraj Ghaywan talks about Hindi and South Indian cinema

Ghaywan took the stage at the 7th Indian Screenwriters Conference (ISC), organized by the Screenwriters Association of India (SWA). When he was asked why South Indian films seem to be outperforming Hindi films at the box office lately, he shared his thoughts: "I think the Southern film industries are thriving because their stories feel genuine, and the characters are relatable and grounded. In Bollywood, characters often feel too polished for a specific audience. It all has to go through Bandra, which makes it less authentic. In trying to cater to a certain crowd, you risk losing the essence of reality."

He participated in a session called 'Alternative Reality,' moderated by Anu Singh Choudhary, the writer of Mrs and Aarya. Ghaywan also expressed his concerns about the lack of independent funding for films in India, a contrast to what's available in Europe. "The real struggle is to create what you envision while working with studios and maintaining your artistic integrity. You often have to rely on music or a well-known actor to recoup costs. It’s a tough fight to bring your vision to life," he noted. He was part of a panel that included fellow filmmakers Shoojit Sircar, Megha Ramaswamy, and Kanu Behl.

Neeraj Ghaywan's journey in the film industry

Neeraj Ghaywan started off as an engineer and a film critic before teaming up with Anurag Kashyap on projects like Gangs of Wasseypur and Ugly. He made his directorial debut in 2014 with Masaan, featuring Vicky Kaushal and Richa Chadha. Since then, he’s directed the second season of Sacred Games, the Geeli Puchi segment in the anthology Ajeeb Dastaans, and a couple of episodes of Made in Heaven.

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