When Mani Ratnam's wife Suhasini called out Bollywood's lack of originality: 'Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan do stereotypical roles'

Acclaimed filmmaker and actress Suhasini Maniratnam, wife of National Award winning filmmaker Mani Ratnam, once stirred conversation with her sharp critique of Bollywood’s creative direction.In a 2010 interview with The Times Of India, the National Award-winning actress expressed disappointment with how Hindi cinema often lifts ideas from international films without credit. Reviewing Anjaana Anjaani, she said it felt strikingly similar to Before Sunrise and The Girl on the Bridge, adding, “Bollywood sometimes blatantly copies without buying rights or acknowledging the original work.”Criticism of Bollywood Icons and Formulaic ChoicesMeanwhile in another interview with The Telegraph, Suhasini didn't shy away from criticizing Bollywood’s most iconic actors. “Aamir and Shah Rukh Khan are still doing stereotypical roles,” she remarked, also pointing out that Amitabh Bachchan, despite his legendary status, stuck largely to his “angry young man” image. According to her, mainstream Hindi cinema hasn’t pushed its stars into unexplored territories, making their body of work predictable over the years.Why She Finds Hindi Films ‘Unbearable’Suhasini further revealed she had stopped watching commercial Hindi films years ago, calling them “absolutely unbearable.” She lamented their lack of regional grounding, contrasting them with South Indian cinema which, she said, reflects its roots more authentically. “Only now are Hindi films becoming regional,” she noted, citing exceptions like Shahid, but criticized the larger trend of “pan-Indian” stories that lack cultural depth, such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham or Kal Ho Naa Ho.