November 4, 2025, Mumbai — The latest IMDb report, “25 Years of Indian Cinema (2000–2025),” has reignited discussions about how Indian cinema has evolved over the past two decades. To explore its findings in depth, The Hollywood Reporter India hosted a thought-provoking roundtable moderated by renowned film critic Anupama Chopra. The session brought together industry leaders — Siddharth Roy Kapur, Kiran Rao, Sameer Nair, and Raj Nidimoru — who shared insightful perspectives on changing stardom, gender representation, and the unstoppable rise of regional cinema.
Fame Is No Longer Exclusive
To begin with, Siddharth Roy Kapur reflected on how the concept of “superstardom” has dramatically transformed.
He explained, “Stardom has become more accessible. It’s no longer the privilege of just a few big names as it once was.”
Adding to his thoughts, Kiran Rao emphasized that fame today is driven more by creativity than celebrity status. “It’s not all about the cult of personality anymore,” she noted. “Audiences now care about what each artist contributes to a story.” Moreover, she highlighted that the modern audience has countless choices — from YouTube creators to stand-up comics and digital influencers — which has completely redefined what it means to be a “star.”
Bridging the Gender Gap in Stardom
Transitioning to the topic of gender representation, Raj Nidimoru raised a critical issue — the lack of equal investment in women actors.
“Love stories often make superstars,” he said. “But over time, all the bets are placed on the male lead. He’s built up like a franchise, while women don’t receive the same push. You can’t expect a female-led film to open big when we haven’t created that ecosystem yet.”
Furthermore, Nidimoru pointed out that audiences connect with strong performers, regardless of gender. “At the end of the day,” he said, “it’s about who you love watching on screen — that shouldn’t depend on whether they’re male or female.”
Regional Cinema Redefines Scale and Ambition
Continuing the discussion, Siddharth Roy Kapur applauded the daring vision of South Indian filmmakers.
“South films dream big,” he said. “Because their funding isn’t tied to corporates, they have the freedom to take creative risks. Hindi cinema’s structured systems have brought discipline but also limited bold experimentation.”
As an example, he cited Baahubali, calling it a masterclass in ambitious, flexible filmmaking — something difficult to achieve within the corporate frameworks of Bollywood.
Building on this, Nidimoru remarked that the divide between North and South cinema has faded. “When I was filming Stree in Chanderi, I noticed locals watching dubbed Telugu films,” he said. “That’s when I realized — it’s not North versus South anymore. We’re truly one Indian film industry now.”
Encouraging Creativity Through Responsibility
Turning to the future, Sameer Nair proposed a new philosophy — what he termed Creative Social Responsibility (CSR).
“I think the industry must go beyond profit-making,” he suggested. “We need to take responsibility for nurturing creativity. By sharing artistic knowledge and encouraging innovation, we can preserve the essence of our storytelling tradition.”
Watch the Full Conversation
For those who want to dive deeper into these thought-provoking discussions, the full roundtable featuring Siddharth Roy Kapur, Kiran Rao, Sameer Nair, and Raj Nidimoru is available online.
🎥 Watch here: The Hollywood Reporter India – IMDb 25 Years of Indian Cinema Roundtable
