Actor Suniel Shetty, even after 28 years of his debut, remains relevant. As an integral part of the Hindi film industry, he has observed the changes in there from close quarters. The biggest one according to him is that now showbiz has become more money-oriented.

“It was all about relationships before. It’s cold business and pure success that matters today. We blame groups in Bollywood. But according to me, they take calls, ‘Iski picture khareedunga’, it begins there. It is all about collection, maths, and that’s why it’s ruthless, it wasn’t so ruthless before,” he says.

On the unfairness of how particular individuals are being targeted for not allowing outsiders to flourish, Shetty says, “If you can’t deliver, investor says you are out... If you have to blame anybody, blame this system of money and the X valuations. Why are we blaming individuals? It’s so sad.”

The 59-year-old feels the way business happens has changed, too. “Earlier, for example, it would be my father and accountant. Now, there’s a CEO, CFO... my God, how many people handling the same thing! It’s investment vs return, not just entertainment. Achhi film banao aur chalne do... nahi, maths nahi kehta toh yeh nahi chalega... Kya kar rahe ho aap? You are curbing creativity. We have become too materialistic,” laments the actor.

Reminiscing how it used to be in his times, Shetty reveals that despite the fact that he didn’t know how to dance properly, the makers of Krishna (1996) spent a whopping amount on his song. “The song was Jhanjhariya. Suniel Shetty has two left feet, yet it was the biggest song in the history of Bollywood, then. The producers didn’t see the maths, they said, ‘Chalake paisa banayenge’. They made the film from their hearts, that’s why films ran for years. Maths can never dictate art or creativity,” the actor signs off.