Young filmmaker Arnab Chatterjee, director of ‘Murderbaad’, recently shared his frustrations about Bollywood’s hierarchical system, revealing how powerful managers and agencies are preventing A-list actors from even seeing compelling scripts.
Navigating Bollywood’s Barriers
Chatterjee, an outsider to the industry, recounted the disrespect he faced from actors and producers. He explained that many wouldn’t even grant him a proper meeting, often rejecting his scripts without a real conversation.
This barrier is largely due to the many layers of managers and agencies. Arnab stated that filmmakers struggle to gain direct access to top stars. Instead, they are left dealing with a network of managers who often suggest different actors, leading to months of wasted time without ever reaching the desired star.
Scripts Lost in the System
Arnab shared a personal anecdote about this issue with his film ‘Murderbaad’. He had approached several A-list actors over the past few years, only to be met with excuses or suggestions to cast someone else by their management.
In one instance, he even directly visited an actor’s home with his script. The actor expressed admiration for the story but declined due to the lack of an established studio backing the project. Chatterjee notes that many of these A-listers, who later sent him congratulatory messages for ‘Murderbaad’, likely never knew the film was offered to them in the first place.
A Look at Star Kids
When asked about which star kids he’d consider casting, Arnab praised Ananya Panday, calling her very talented and someone who has disproved her critics. He expressed a desire to work with her on more experimental roles.
He also mentioned Ibrahim Ali Khan, but couldn’t help but laugh when his film ‘Nadaaniyan’ came up. Chatterjee suggested that star kids, like Ibrahim, could benefit from making better film choices, attributing their current decisions to the influence of those around them.
- Filmmaker Arnab Chatterjee highlighted how talent agencies and managers prevent direct access to A-list actors for independent filmmakers.
- He stated that great scripts often don’t reach stars because of the gatekeeping by intermediaries.
- Chatterjee also commented on star kid Ananya Panday’s talent and subtly critiqued Ibrahim Ali Khan’s film choices.
Arnab’s insights echo similar concerns raised by other prominent directors like Anurag Kashyap, spotlighting a growing challenge for new talent in the industry.
