Actor Avinash Tiwary, known for his role in 'Ginny Weds Sunny 2', has ignited a debate about Bollywood's priorities. He questioned why senior Hindi film stars continue to flaunt six-pack abs on screen, a demand not seen in other major film industries, and whether this obsession comes at the expense of storytelling and craft.
Avinash Tiwary Criticizes Bollywood's Body Obsession
Appearing on Siddharth Kannan's podcast, Avinash Tiwary did not hold back. He pointed out that this body-obsession is unique to Hindi cinema. Tiwary said, 'Anywhere you go, in any industry… I know I might get flagged for saying this, but do you really see 60-year-olds walking around with six-pack or eight-pack abs? Even in Hollywood, Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't doing that; Sylvester Stallone… there's simply no need to.' He added, 'There is no vanity or desirability that needs to be sold off. Not even in the South. Why is it only in the Hindi film industry? That is a question we all need to answer.'
Focus on Box Office Numbers
In the same conversation, Tiwary pointed out that Hindi film audiences have become unusually focused on box office numbers, a habit that doesn't exist in other film cultures. He questioned what that says about the value placed on storytelling and skill. He mocked the promotional culture built around actor physiques, saying, 'That someone takes a shirt off and a girl holds his hand… a picture gets taken that says "Coming Soon…" and you start feeling like, "Oh, this film is actually releasing."' He argued that if the goal is only visual appeal, filmmakers could simply cast models, and questioned what story was actually being told.
Questioning the Role of an Artist
The actor also turned the lens on himself and fellow artists, questioning the deeper purpose of filmmaking. 'What we are selling is this obsession that "You bought a ticket at 4 AM to see my film." That is what I am selling to you. And truly, if I am an artist, it is worth asking the question: is that what you want to sell?' The 'Laila Majnu' actor added that if cinema is meant to be art and a voice for the voiceless, that vision is sadly missing from Hindi films today, and audiences may not be demanding better either.
About 'Ginny Weds Sunny 2'
Avinash Tiwary's new release, 'Ginny Weds Sunny 2', co-starring Medha Shankr, hit theaters on April 24, 2025. The film also stars Lillete Dubey, Sudhir Pandey, Govind Namdev, Gopi Bhalla, and Rohit Chaudhary. It is a spiritual sequel to Yami Gautam and Vikrant Massey's 'Ginny Weds Sunny', released in 2020.
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