Director Rohit Shetty, riding high on the success of Singham Again, recently shared sharp criticism of new-age actors during a chat with casting director Mukesh Chhabra on Mashable India. Shetty labeled many emerging stars as “insecure people,” citing their over-reliance on social media for validation. He claimed that 90% of their followers and articles are paid promotions, which he feels will not sustain their careers in the long run.
Shetty emphasized the need for actors to focus on proving themselves on the big screen rather than relying on digital buzz. He also advised them to approach all roles—big or small—with humility and conviction, a trait he believes is fading in today’s stars.
What does he mean by insecure?
To illustrate his point, Shetty highlighted Salman Khan’s decision to take a supporting role in the 1996 Sunny Deol-starrer Jeet during a challenging phase in his career. He noted that Salman accepted the role with grace, even though his screen time was limited, viewing it as an opportunity to advance his career.
“When Salman Khan’s movies were not working, he did Jeet with Sunny Deol. He saw it as an anchor to move forward in his career. This quality in stars is now fading,” Shetty remarked.
For context, Jeet became a box-office hit and marked an important stepping stone in Salman’s career, leading to future successes such as Judwaa and Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna KyaInterestingly, Rohit Shetty is set to collaborate with Salman Khan in their upcoming project, Mission Chulbul Singham. Salman also made a cameo in Shetty’s recent blockbuster Singham Again.
Meanwhile, Salman Khan is preparing for his next big release, Sikandar, directed by AR Murugadoss and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, and Sharman Joshi, which is set to premiere on Eid 2025.
