Powerful Hollywood is affecting Indian cinema: Irrfan Khan

Internationally-acclaimed actor Irrfan Khan (left) says Indian cinema is being dominated by foreign films and this has affected the business of Bollywood films.

The 48-year-old, who has starred in various hit foreign films like Slumdog Millionaire (2008), The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and Life of Pi (2012), believes Bollywood films are not a competition for Hollywood. “Hollywood demand different kind of skills. They have a different set of audience,” Irrfan said, adding, “But Hollywood has a bigger reach than Bollywood, and has its own universal language. It is more powerful. It has dominated our cinema. It can affect the business of Bollywood. But our films are not affecting their business. It’s Hollywood, which is affecting Indian cinema.” Starting his career in Bollywood with character roles in films like Salaam Bombay! (1988) and Drishti (1990), Irrfan went on to carve his space on the silver screen by showing his versatility in acting through films like Haasil (2003), Life in a... Metro (2007) and The Namesake (2006). But he says roles that he has played up till now were not of his choice, as he was not offered romantic roles before Piku. “People usually think of me as a serious actor, but roles that I have done so far were not of my choice. I was not offered such roles earlier. If given a choice I would have rather done comedy and romantic films earlier,” Irrfan said.

Hollywood has dominated our cinema. It can affect the business of Bollywood

Irrfan Khan, actor