Money rules the roost, even in the world of showbiz, says actor Worship Khanna. The actor, who has been a part of shows like Kumkum Bhagya, Meri Doli Mere Angana, Ishq Subhan Allah and web series like Hello Jee, Cold Lassi and Chicken Masala and currently seen in show Pati Brahmachari, adds that the industry is focused on only making content that sells fast.
“Today, inclusion in Bollywood, TV, and OTT has become more about business. You’re being shown exactly what you want to see. The industry is focused on what sells, and that’s what is being made. At one time, it became a trend to include item numbers in movies. Wearing revealing clothes and showing lip-lock scenes became “must-haves” in many films. Why? Because these were things people were curious about. Anything that’s new, bold, or that we’ve never seen before on screen naturally grabs attention,” he says.
He adds, “Sometimes, there are topics or visuals that society had kept hidden or never openly discussed. But once these things started coming into the public eye through films, there was a huge craze. I still remember a film called Khwaish or LoC – people went crazy because, for the first time, it showed 18 kissing scenes. It became the talk of the town. That’s the power of marketing – give people what they’re curious about.At the end of the day, making movies, TV shows, or web series is all about business. If there’s no profit in it, it won’t be shown. The audience wants it, so the makers create it. But this demand will only last for some time. I feel that intimate scenes and bold content have become so overexposed on TV, films, and OTT that people will eventually get bored of it.”
Films, OTT content, and television are said to imitate society, and vice versa, he says. “Society affects cinema, and cinema affects society. It works both ways. Look, everything we see has some kind of impact – sometimes good, sometimes bad. The society that is being shown in films today is not imaginary. It’s not something filmmakers have created out of thin air. Most of the time, the stories we see on screen – whether it’s about crime, intimacy, or any incident – are inspired by real life. They might be dramatized for entertainment, but the root comes from somewhere real. So, nothing shown is completely unusual or impossible. It’s all part of human nature and reality. It has an effect on us – but how it affects us depends on how we, as individuals, choose to take it.There are many things happening in our society that we don’t openly talk about. If those things are being shown in films, then even without directly discussing them, you can still learn something from it. You may become more aware, more alert. You might think, “Should I do this or not?” or “If this happens in my life, how will I handle it?” You can even reflect on the consequences of certain actions, whether good or bad.So, it’s all about you as a viewer – how you receive and process what you see. Personally, I feel that we should try to learn something from everything. If a film is made to raise a certain issue, and it starts a conversation or spreads awareness about something we usually avoid talking about, then why not?” he says.
As for doing bold sequences on screen, he says, “See, I believe there’s a big difference between intimacy and nudity, and also between sensuality and vulgarity. I am comfortable doing intimate or sensual scenes if they are important for the story. But I’m not comfortable with vulgarity, the kind that feels dirty or unnecessary just to grab attention or for cheap thrills. If something feels vulgar, I’m definitely not in favor of doing it. But if a particular scene is genuinely required in the story, and if it adds meaning or emotion to that moment, then I am open to it. It’s not about using bold scenes for promotion or marketing, but about making the story feel real and complete. If the audience also feels like that moment was needed, then I believe it’s justified. As an artist, I am a part of the story. It’s my job to live every moment of the character’s journey. So it’s not like I will avoid a scene just because it’s emotional, bold, or intense.”
