Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui is actively promoting his latest film, Costao. During an interview with Puja Talwar on her YouTube channel, Nawaz candidly addressed the current creative state of the Hindi film industry.
He didn’t hold back in criticizing Bollywood for its lack of originality, stating that repetitive formulas and sequels have taken over genuine storytelling. “In Bollywood, the same idea is recycled for years. Only when audiences grow tired does it fade out,” Nawaz observed. He added, “Insecurity has reached alarming levels. Filmmakers stick to what’s trending—overdoing the same concepts. Now sequels go on till part 3 or 4. It’s nothing short of a creative collapse.”
Calling the situation a “creative bankruptcy”, he remarked that Bollywood has long indulged in plagiarism. “From the beginning, we’ve copied—songs, plots, even iconic scenes from hit films. This theft has been accepted as normal.”
Nawaz highlighted how filmmakers once blatantly showed reference films and asked for exact copies to be made. “If this is the mindset, how can innovation thrive?” he questioned. “And when this culture persists, talented artists like Anurag Kashyap, who offer unique perspectives, start stepping back.”
He further criticized the trend of borrowing from regional cinema and other industries without adding any originality.
Nawaz stars in Costao as Costao Fernandes, a dedicated Goa customs officer who gives up everything to crack down on a major gold smuggling ring. Directed by Sejal Shah, the film is now streaming on ZEE5.
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