In the current landscape of Bollywood, it feels like there is a mandatory uniform for the leading man: a thick, unkempt beard, a perpetually furrowed brow, and a level of aggression that feels more like a fitness challenge than a character trait.
The ever-candid Gulshan Devaiah recently hit the nail on the head regarding the industry’s “herd mentality.” During a recent interview, he questioned why every lead actor today feels the need to sport a heavy beard and adopt a hyper-masculine persona. His observation was blunt. “Everybody is doing Pushpa only.”
Ever since the massive success of films like Pushpa, KGF, and most recently Animal and Dhurandhar, the Bollywood boardroom strategy has shifted. Instead of searching for fresh scripts, the focus has pivoted to a specific, repeatable aesthetic.
Heavy beards, messy hair, and a permanent layer of grime. Stoicism mixed with explosive violence—the “underdog turned monster” trope. Real emotional vulnerability or intellectual depth.
Gulshan’s critique is refreshing because it calls out how imitation is replacing innovation. While the original Pushpa was a breakout success because it felt localized and fresh, the dozens of iterations following in its footsteps feel like hollow copies. As Gulshan noted, there seems to be a strange fear of the “clean-shaven” hero or the leading man who doesn’t solve every problem.
Why “Pushpa-fication” is Stifling the Industry
The issue isn’t that action movies are bad; it’s that Bollywood seems to be making the same action movie over and over. This “ultra-macho” wave is causing a few major issues.
Bollywood used to excel at stories about the common man—the intellectual, the romantic, or the quirky protagonist. These voices are being drowned out by the roar of cinematic gunfire and heavy bass soundtracks. From color palettes to character design, everything is starting to look the same. The “gritty” filter has become a default, making diverse stories feel interchangeable.
Gulshan’s career is a proof to the “anti-template.” Whether playing the ruthless King Kulashekara in Kantara: Chapter 1 or the eccentric Atmaram in Guns & Gulaabs, he proves that power on screen doesn’t require a specific look. In fact, he mentioned that he was likely cast in certain roles specifically because he wouldn’t just stare blankly at the camera to look “tough.” To know such latest updates tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
