Masaan (2015) director Neeraj Ghaywan recently spoke about the current state of the Hindi film industry stating that it relies heavily on "sanitised" storytelling, unlike its southern counterparts which are more "rooted" and authentic. Neeraj made the comments while speaking at the seventh edition of the Indian Screenwriters Conference (ISC) hosted by the Screenwriters Association of India (SWA).
The filmmaker, who also helmed the second season of Sacred Games (2018-19), said that south films continue to do well because they prioritise lived-in experiences over surface-level characters.
"I feel the reason why the southern industries are doing so well is because their lived reality is so authentic, and their characters are rooted and real. Here (in Bollywood), the characters are sanitized for a certain audience. It has to go via Bandra. It doesn't feel real,” the filmmaker said.
Speaking at the session 'Alternative Reality' hosted by Mrs (2025) and Aarya (2020) writer Anu Singh Choudhary, Neeraj noted the lack of "independent funding" for films—which exists in Europe but not in India—which has made it difficult for indie cinema to thrive.
"The challenge is to make what you want with the studios while keeping your integrity intact. Recovery has to come from music or casting a particular actor. You have to battle your way through to achieve your vision," he said.
