NDC DESK
In a move that’s both audacious and prophetic, celebrated filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has sent a digital shockwave that is strong enough for Bollywood’s powerhouses to feel. “I don’t need Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan,” he declared in a recent media interaction. “I will create my own film star.”
The statement isn’t just bold. It’s a cultural lightning bolt aimed at the very heart of India’s star-driven cinema industry. And no, Kapur isn’t bluffing. He’s talking Artificial Intelligence, not just as a tool, but as the future face of cinema.
For a country where actors are worshipped, the idea that a director can conjure up a fully digital protagonist, bypassing human charisma and legacy entirely, is revolutionary. Or blasphemous depending on who is listening.
But Kapur, known for Mr. India, Bandit Queen, and Elizabeth, has never been afraid to stir things up.
“The AI actor I create will speak your language, reflect your culture, and respond to your emotions,” he said. Sounds like sci-fi, but it’s not. This is the next chapter in filmmaking where algorithms replace egos, and scripts meet code. Probably traditional stardom risks obsolescence.
Kapur’s vision taps into a bigger shift. As global content becomes faster, shorter, and more personalised, he’s asking a bold question: What happens when technology catches up with charisma?
This isn’t about disrespecting legends, he clarifies. It’s about a filmmaker asking a very uncomfortable question; what happens when technology catches up with charisma? It’s about reimagining storytelling. The big stars may still draw crowds, but imagine an AI-generated actor, multilingual, ageless, always available, customised for viewers in Mumbai, Manhattan, or Manila.
Of course, this idea comes with serious questions. What about ethics, ownership, consent, and creativity? Who owns an AI actor? The filmmaker, the coder, or the studio? And what happens to the livelihoods built around real stars?
Still, Kapur believes the trade-off is worth it. “Technology doesn’t kill creativity. It expands it,” he says. In his eyes, AI won’t end acting, it will challenge directors to think deeper and dream bigger.
For now, the Khans and Kapoors are still safe. India loves its real stars. But the screen is changing. And maybe, just maybe, the next blockbuster review won’t be about a human actor but an AI who never flubbed a line.
The final word? When the man who made Mr. India invisible says he’s about to make a superstar out of thin air, we’d do well to watch this space and maybe, buckle upto plan a new form of movie reviews writing too!
