Rajesh Kumar, the actor who became a household name for his pitch-perfect portrayal of Rosesh Sarabhai in the cult classic Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, has stepped forward with a blunt critique of Bollywood’s internal culture. In a series of recent interviews, the actor did not hold back, describing a rigid “class system” that exists on film sets—one that often sidelines talented character actors in favor of a small circle of “elites.”
According to Kumar, the glamour of the silver screen masks a deeply divided workplace where treatment is dictated by one’s “star value” rather than their artistic contribution.
One of the most striking points Kumar raised was the lack of basic professional interaction on major film sets. He revealed that on big-budget projects, creative discussions are often restricted to a tiny bubble consisting of the director, the cinematographer, the main leads, and the head writer.
For the rest of the cast—many of whom are seasoned performers—their experience and input are frequently ignored. Kumar noted that it has become increasingly rare for lead actors to rehearse with their co-stars. Instead, stars often choose to rehearse in isolation with an assistant or a writer, leaving supporting actors to figure out the chemistry of a scene only when the cameras are rolling.
Kumar went a step further, suggesting that this “class system” is sometimes fueled by the insecurities of leading stars. He alleged that some lead actors intentionally keep supporting cast members at a distance to ensure they don’t get “overshadowed.”
He highlighted a specific tactic where supporting actors are given their dialogue or scene changes at the very last minute. According to Kumar, this forces the actor to focus entirely on memorizing lines rather than delivering a nuanced performance, effectively neutralizing any “threat” they might pose to the lead’s spotlight.
“One might be respected as an actor, but even sitting on the same couch as a star becomes difficult sometimes,” Kumar shared, pointing out the physical and social barriers that reinforce hierarchy.
While his critique was sharp, Kumar did offer a contrast by citing industry veterans like Amitabh Bachchan. Although he hasn’t worked with Bachchan personally, Kumar mentioned hearing that the legend makes it a point to rehearse with the entire cast. This brand of professional respect, he argues, is what is missing in the current generation of stardom, where “human conversation” has been replaced by metrics and ego.
Kumar’s perspective is shaped by a career that has seen both extreme highs and crushing lows. While he remains iconic for his comedic timing, he also recently opened up about a difficult period where he stepped away from acting to pursue organic farming. This venture led to a debt of nearly ₹2 crore, forcing him to sell vegetables outside his son’s school at one point to keep his family afloat.
His return to the industry with films like Saiyaara has come with a newfound resolve to speak his truth. By exposing the “unwritten rules” of Bollywood, Kumar is calling for a more collaborative and empathetic environment—one where an actor’s worth isn’t just measured by the size of their vanity van or their billing on a poster. To know such
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