Ahan Shetty on first quarter of 21st century: Biggest change has been how honest films have become
Mumbai, Dec 27
Actor Ahan Shetty feels that the biggest shift in the first 25 years of the 21st century has been the growing honesty in filmmaking, with stories now driven more by emotion and relatability than by stars and spectacle.
Reflecting on how cinema has evolved, Ahan, who is the son of Bollywood veteran star Suniel Shetty, told IANS: "I think the biggest change has been how honest films have become. Earlier, a lot of storytelling was built around stars and spectacle. Now even the bigger films try to come from a place of emotion and relatability."
The actor shared that earlier narratives often leaned heavily on larger-than-life elements, whereas even big-budget films today attempt to connect with audiences on a more emotional level.
"Technology has definitely changed the scale and reach, but what really surprised me is the audience today. They're far more involved, they analyse everything, question choices, and really invest in the process."
According to the actor, this shift has raised the bar for performers as well. He believes actors can no longer rely on surface-level impact alone.
"As an actor, you can't rely on surface-level impact anymore. You actually have to mean what you're doing on screen," said Ahan.
Talking about Ahan, he began his acting career with Milan Luthria directional romantic action drama film Tadap in 2021, co-starring Tara Sutaria. The film was a remake of hit Telugu action film RX 100.
He is now set to be seen in the upcoming film "Border 2". Directed by Anurag Singh, the film features a formidable ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty, Medha Rana, Mona Singh, and Sonam Bajwa.
Produced by Bhushan Kumar, JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta, the film is slated to hit theatres on 23 January 2026.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Respectfully, I think he's overlooking the South film industry. Telugu and Tamil cinema have been making emotionally-driven, content-heavy films for years, often without relying on just stars. Bollywood is catching up, which is good, but let's give credit where it's due.
As someone who watches both Hollywood and Bollywood, the change is global. Audiences everywhere are smarter. We have so much content at our fingertips, filmmakers have to try harder. It's a great time to be a movie lover!
True, but let's not write off the old masala films completely. They had their own charm and honesty in a different way—pure entertainment and wish-fulfillment. A balance is key. Sometimes after a long day, you just want a 'Dabangg', not a hard-hitting drama.
Interesting point about actors having to "mean" it now. You can really tell when a performance is hollow vs. when an actor is fully invested. The Khans and Kapoors who have adapted are thriving. The ones who haven't... well, the box office tells the story.
OTT platforms deserve a lot of credit for this shift. They took risks on new stories and actors, and the audience responded. Now the big screen is learning from that. Can't wait for Border 2! Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.