Anurag Kashyap says India thrives on hero worshippers; talks about Bollywood megastars: “They have Iron Man and other superheroes; we have Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan”

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has sparked a conversation about hero worship in Indian cinema. In a recent interview on the YouTube channel Humans of Cinema, Kashyap delved into the psychology behind the phenomenon, highlighting the unique dynamic between fans and megastars in Hindi films.

Kashyap argued that India’s cultural landscape is fertile ground for hero worship. He suggested that a sense of deprivation and a lack of self-esteem fuel the desire for larger-than-life heroes on screen. “We are a country of hero worshippers,” he said, “We are deprived of many things and have low self-esteem and confidence. We need heroes. Why do our films have larger-than-life heroes?”

Unlike Hollywood, where superheroes often hide behind masks, Indian cinema thrives on the charisma of its biggest stars. “We are the only country where actors won’t cover their faces while playing superheroes,” Kashyap remarked. “The masks would be so small because it is important to show their faces.”

Kashyap offered a comparison between Hollywood superheroes and Bollywood megastars. “They have Iron Man and other superheroes; we have Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan as our superheroes,” he said. He playfully extended the analogy to include Sunny Deol, implying that these actors embody a sense of invincibility that resonates with Indian audiences.

He suggested that this hero worship is a reflection of a deeper societal need. “This is in all of us; we need heroes to feel better about ourselves. We fantasise about this. An average Indian dreams about doing something heroic.”

Meanwhile, Anurag Kashyap will be starring in Disney+ Hotstar’s Bad Cop and Tamil movie, Maharaja.
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