There was a time in Bollywood when producers invested in films because they truly believed in the story and trusted the filmmaker’s vision. Profit mattered, but passion for good cinema mattered more.
Today, that kind of producer is becoming rare. The change is most visible in the way Dharma Productions has recently behaved toward some of its own actors.
Until a few weeks ago, Dharma was reportedly promoting Kiara Advani for upcoming projects, including Shakti Shalini under Maddock Films. But after the massive success of Saiyaara, Kiara was replaced by Aneet Padda.
A similar shift has happened with Varun Dhawan. Once considered one of Dharma’s top faces, he now appears to have been sidelined. Following the success of The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, Lakshya Lalwani is being positioned as the next big name featured heavily in interviews and new projects.
While both Kiara and Varun remain talented and popular, Dharma’s change in strategy reflects a larger issue in Bollywood: producers increasingly chase hype over skill.
The popularity of stars changes fast. A single successful film can turn an unknown actor into an overnight sensation. Producers, in turn, rush to capitalise on that momentum often ignoring whether the actor truly suits the role or not.
This obsession with face value and instant fame sidelines genuine talent. Once the hype fades, capable actors are pushed aside while those backed by influence and visibility continue to rise.
Bollywood’s creative strength risks being overshadowed by its growing focus on short-term marketability instead of long-term artistic value.
