Filmmaker Hansal Mehta took to social media on Tuesday to pen a long post giving suggestions on how Hindi cinema can get a complete makeover. In the post, he also listed certain actors who he thinks are talented and “are ready to change the game.”
Titled “Hindi Cinema Needs a Reset,” the post on X reads, "For those predicting doom for Bollywood-pause. The industry isn't dying. It's waiting to be disrupted. The problem isn't the audience losing interest. It's that investment is being funnelled into the safe, the recycled, the formulaic.”
"The future of Hindi cinema lies in betting on raw talent, bold storytelling, and directors who can take a script and direct the hell out of it. The past few years have proved: stars don't necessarily bring audiences; conviction does," Hansal added.
The Shahid (2012) director also shared his list of nine new-generation actors, including Faraaz (2022) actors Zahan Kapoor and Aditya Rawal; Adarsh Gourav, who was most recently seen in Superboys of Malegaon (2025); and Kill (2023) stars Lakshya and Raghav Juyal.
"Hindi cinema doesn't need saving, it needs a shift in priorities. The formula is simple: invest in actors, not 'stars'. Write without fear. Direct with conviction," he wrote.
"But it will take producers with vision, platforms that back stories over statistics, and directors who demand authenticity over familiarity. It will need solid financial discipline, intelligent exhibition strategy, marketing that is well thought out and not the template paid publicity that is making publicists rich and the industry much poorer," he added.
Calling Adarsh a "shape-shifter", Hansal said he's not a star; he's a chameleon.
"Hollywood is already betting on him (Alien TV series). Bollywood needs to wake up and match that faith. This guy is 'a lambi race ka ghoda' (he's in it for the long haul)."
Zahaan, who made his film debut with The Hansal directorial Faraaz, is "breakthrough name", he said about the actor who is receiving rave reviews for his first web series Black Warrant.
According to the director, Aditya is a "disruptor" who is not looking for stardom, but roles.
If Lakshya is a "relentless fighter", Juyal is an "unpredictable wildcard".
"If the right filmmakers put their faith in him, he could be Hindi cinema's next great action disruptor," he said about Lakshya.
Hindi cinema needs to take more chances on actors like Juyal, Mehta said, because when they deliver, they create magic.
The filmmaker's list also comprised Jigra (2024) actor Vedang Raina, whom he called a "scene stealer"; The Perfect Couple (2024) actor Ishaan Khatter, who, according to Mehta, was like an "untapped dynamo"; Sparsh Shrivastava of Laapataa Ladies (2024) fame, whom the filmmaker called a "silent revolution"; and Munjya (2024) breakout star Abhay Verma, who is a "wildcard", according to Mehta.
In his post, Hansal said the reset will need producers with vision, platforms that back stories over statistics, and directors who demand authenticity over familiarity.
"It will need solid financial discipline, intelligent exhibition strategy, marketing that is well thought out and not the template paid publicity that is making publicists rich and the industry much poorer... Talent that needs faith, not second-guessing because if nurtured right, they're the future," he added.
According to Hansal, producers need to take the long-term approach and stop chasing weekend box office numbers. Platforms must back actors, not algorithms, and directors should cast actors for the role, skill, and depth, "not just familiarity". “You have the data. Now have some faith,” he wrote.
