In the past, it was a few gatekeepers who ran the industry, which they used to determine which voices to put forth. Also, in recent years, as more inside and outside players got into the game, we saw a trend develop that of honesty being put forward as a threat instead of a value.
The Power Structure Behind the Spotlight
At the core of what ails Bollywood is its very structured power pyramid. Producers, influential families, studio heads, and elite social groups run the show. They are the gatekeepers that we see in play at every turn, from casting to funding, from promotion to media presentation. While these elements of power are present in many a film industry around the world, what we see in Bollywood is an especially opaque and personal brand of it. Loyalty is valued over competence, and compliance is rewarded instead of integrity.
Ego Over Accountability
The ego is a very large factor in the silencing of honest voices. In Bollywood, many powerful personalities have spent years in the making of their image, and we see that criticism, which comes from within, is a form of disrespect instead of what it is, feedback. Power in this case is personal to their legacy, which means that dissension is taken out as a personal attack.
This delicate ecosystem is what we know as validation. Award shows, social media acclaim, and friendly press reinforce bloated images of ourselves. In this environment, truth is the outlier. It brings up tough issues of responsibility, it asks questions that are hard to face, and it sets out there in the open issues between the industry’s public persona and what really goes on behind closed doors.
Why Truth-Tellers Are Seen as “Difficult”
In the Bollywood space, which is what we see play out time and again, is the use of labelling as a tool. We see actors and creators that bring up issues of nepotism, exploitation, pay disparity, or mental health labelled as “problematic”, “unstable” or “difficult to work with”. This is a tactic that, in turn, dissuades others from speaking out.
Ironically, the industry that puts out there is a great value in honesty in films, at the same time, which does not extend to real life. We put forward stories of rebellion and justice that do well on the screen, but when the same actions are taken in real life, we see much less tolerance.
Media Complicity and Image Management
Another factor that causes honest voices to fade out is the very close tie that Bollywood has with mainstream media. In access journalism, which features preferential coverage for those who play along, in which reporters and outlets do what they must to keep their access — in that environment hard truths are left out or weakened. Interviews are prepared in advance, controversy is side-stepped, and reports are put in a frame that supports the powerful.
Those who don’t play by the rules see themselves left out of the press, which in turn hurts their exposure and career growth.
The Shift Is Slow, But Real
Despite pushback, we are seeing a change that is gradual. Independent film, OTT services, and social media have broken some of the old gates keeping in traditional support structures. Today, it is true that an honest voice still finds an audience even without institutional support. Viewers have become more aware, more critical, and less tolerant of put-out narratives.
Ethics at present may not be a standard in our industry, but there is an increasing demand for authenticity. In the short term, Bollywood’s gatekeepers may put up a fight to that which is true, but history tells us that what is true does, in fact, see the light of day again, particularly when the audience begins to pay closer attention.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
