Remember Dr. Dang and Shaakal, the deadly villains who scared us in our childhood? And do you still recall the iconic dialogues of Gabbar Singh and Mogambo? These villains were created a long time ago and it’s been over two decades that we have seen such impactful villains. So, why doesn’t Bollywood make such villains anymore?
The portrayal of villains in Bollywood films has evolved over time due to various factors, including changes in audience preferences, storytelling trends, and societal influences. While iconic villains like Gabbar Singh from “Sholay” and Dr. Dang from “Karma” were popular in their time, the shift in filmmaking has brought about different approaches to character development and storytelling.
Filmmakers have been focusing on creating more realistic and relatable stories. Villains with over-the-top, larger-than-life personas like Gabbar Singh or Shakaal may not align with the desired realism or relatability that filmmakers aim to achieve in contemporary cinema.
Bollywood filmmakers have been responding to changing audience tastes and preferences. Modern audiences are often drawn to more nuanced and complex characters that reflect the shades of grey in human nature. This shift has led to the development of anti-heroes, conflicted characters, or villains with more depth and backstory.
In recent years, there has been an emphasis on character development and exploring the motivations and psychology of both protagonists and antagonists. Villains are now often portrayed with more depth and complexity, blurring the lines between good and evil. This allows for a more nuanced understanding of the characters’ actions and motivations.
Though the portrayal of villains may have changed, Bollywood still produces films with compelling negative characters.
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