Jaipur: Film critic, author, and journalist Anupama Chopra offered a sharp and insightful assessment of Indian cinema at the ‘Dining with Stars’ session at JLF Saturday. The discussion focused on evolving audience behaviour, the dominance of stardom in film industry, rise of OTT platforms, and the crucial role of writers and women in shaping contemporary cinema.Reflecting on India’s deep-rooted fascination with film stars, Chopra said sustained stardom was inseparable from box-office success. “We have a reverential connection with film stars. But, largely, it is dependent on box-office success,” she said.Referring to the three Khans of Hindi cinema, she noted that their decades-long popularity stems from consistently delivering films that connect with audiences. “People follow your personal life and everything about you only when you succeed at the box office,” she said, adding that audience reverence is ultimately performance-driven.Chopra expressed concern over Hindi cinema’s excessive dependence on star power, often at the cost of strong storytelling. Emphasising that stardom should emerge from compelling narratives, she said, “If your storytelling connects, you become a star.”
Cinema needs writers, not just stars: Anupama Chopra | Jaipur News
