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Kunal Kapoor on shooting films across languages: Regional divisions serve political interests not artistic ones

IANS May 5, 2025 448 views

Versatile actor Kunal Kapoor is breaking down linguistic barriers in Indian cinema by working across multiple film industries. He argues that regional divisions are politically manufactured and do not serve artistic purposes. With experience in Malayalam, Telugu, and Hindi films, Kapoor champions a pan-Indian approach to storytelling. His vision is to see Indian cinema as a unified creative expression that goes beyond geographical and linguistic constraints.

"The whole country is our playground, every story worth telling is our story" - Kunal Kapoor"
Kunal Kapoor on shooting films across languages: Regional divisions serve political interests not artistic ones
Mumbai, May 5: Actor Kunal Kapoor, whose latest release is “Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins”, has spoken about working across languages and said that he doesn't view cinema through the lens of “North, South, East, or West.”

Key Points

1

Rejects regional cinema divisions as politically motivated

2

Works across multiple Indian film industries

3

Emphasizes universal storytelling approach

4

Transcends linguistic boundaries in filmmaking

Kunal said: "I am an Indian actor shooting films in different Indian industries. I don't view cinema through the lens of North, South, East, or West. These regional divisions serve political interests, not artistic ones.”

“The politicians are the ones who benefit from such regionalism. As creative people, our vision should transcend these manufactured divides," said the actor, who has previously worked in projects such as “Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities", "Rang De Basanti,” and “Bachna Ae Haseeno” to name a few.

He highlighted the creative freedom of Indian storytellers and emphasized that the vision of filmmakers and actors should transcend regional divides.

Kunal said: "The whole country is our playground, every story worth telling is our story, every audience member is our audience. When we stop thinking of ourselves as regional actors and start seeing ourselves as Indian storytellers, we unlock the true potential of our collective creative spirit."

For the unversed, Kunal has worked across languages in Indian cinema. He made his Malayalam debut with Veeram in 2016 and his Telugu debut with Devadas in 2018.

Looking forward, he has another Telugu film in the pipeline, titled Vishwambhara and will reportedly be seen in “Ramayana” by Nitesh Tiwari.

Kunal started his career as an assistant director, and made his acting debut with the MF Hussain 2004 film Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities.

He was then seen in films such as Rang De Basanti, Aaja Nachle, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Bachna Ae Haseeno, Welcome to Sajjanpur, Don 2, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, Dear Zindagi, Veeram, Gold, The Empire. He will also make his Telugu debut in Vishwambhara.

Along with his acting career, Kunal is also a trained pilot and races rally and formula 3 cars.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Finally someone said it! Cinema should unite us, not divide us. I grew up watching Rajnikanth and Shah Rukh with equal love. Why should language be a barrier when emotions are universal? 🙌
P
Priya M.
While I agree with the sentiment, we shouldn't ignore that regional cinema has its unique flavors. The beauty lies in celebrating both diversity and unity. Kunal makes a good point about political exploitation though.
A
Arjun S.
As someone from Kerala who loves Hindi films and a Malayali actor working in Bollywood, I completely agree! Talent has no language. But subtitles should improve so more people can enjoy all Indian cinema.
S
Shweta T.
Kunal Kapoor speaking facts! Our film industry is finally moving beyond the "Bollywood vs South" nonsense. The success of pan-India films like RRR and KGF proves audiences just want good stories, regardless of language.
V
Vikram J.
Respectfully disagree slightly - regional identities in cinema are important too. The problem comes when we start comparing or putting down other industries. Let's appreciate all cinema without erasing their roots.
N
Neha P.
So true! I'm Maharashtrian but my favorite actors are from South India. Art has no boundaries. Hope more actors follow Kunal's example and work across industries. PS - Can't wait for his Ramayana! 🎬

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