‘The Kerala Story’ director Sudipto Sen has revealed why he deliberately chose not to work with big names in Bollywood like Akshay Kumar and Shah Rukh Khan. In a candid interview, Sen said he values creative freedom more than star power, and believes big stars turn directors into passengers on their sets.
Sudipto Sen talks about why he avoids big stars in his films
Speaking to Free Press Journal, when Sudipto Sen was asked why he stays away from celebrities, the director was refreshingly honest. “The thing is, I’m a confident person, but I’m not overly confident,” he said, explaining that although he can fully own his own film, he can’t handle the pressure that comes with making someone else’s film.According to him, big stars change the creative focus of the entire project.He also added, “When a big star comes along, your responsibility is to make his film.
You make an Akshay Kumar film, you make a Shah Rukh Khan film.” He added that under these conditions, “directors are not allowed to be directors” – a creative compromise he is not willing to make.His conclusion was: “I would rather focus on my art, I would rather focus on my story making my film than making someone else’s film.”
Sudipto Sen says he knew ‘Kerala Story’ would be a hit
In the same conversation, Sudipto Sen said that he was confident about the commercial potential of The Kerala Story from the beginning and expected it to cross Rs 200 crore mark at the box office.
Despite this belief, he was equally firm about keeping the film a mini-movie with a story. “I was sure that I would not work with big stars,” he said, adding that he did not want the film to carry “the label of a big movie.”
More about Sudipto Sen
Sudipto Sen is an Indian film director known for his socially and politically charged stories. He has directed films including ‘The Last Monk’, ‘Lucknow Times’ and ‘Yeh Suhaagraat Impossible’. He rose to national fame with the 2023 blockbuster The Kerala Story, which he wrote and directed, although he was not involved in its sequel.