Shekhar Suman has weighed in on the debate around actors, visibility and social media fame while praising Akshaye Khanna’s performance in ‘Dhurandhar’. With the film drawing attention, Suman said actors should trust their craft instead of chasing likes, paparazzi attention or online presence. In a recent interview, he said a strong role and the right opportunity can change how audiences see an actor.
Shekhar Suman on actors chasing visibility
Speaking to India Today, Shekhar Suman said today’s industry places too much importance on being seen. He said many actors measure themselves through social media reactions, which can affect them deeply.“There’s far too much emphasis on only being seen around, and likes, and being seen and being appreciated. They get depressed if they don’t get as many likes as they had imagined. That kind of thing. You believe in your talent, believe in your craft, and the rest, everything is going to follow,” Suman said.He added, “And for actors, it’s not important to be seen around on social media. I don’t think so. Your work should speak for itself. When people see you on screen, they will remember you for years.”Suman then pointed to Akshaye Khanna’s return to attention through ‘Dhurandhar’. He said, “Akshaye Khanna, for 10 years, was nowhere. No partying, no social media, no nothing. One performance and that’s it. He decimated all those notions about being seen.”
Akshaye Khanna and Rakesh Bedi in Dhurandhar
Suman said a good performance carries more weight than online activity. “I strongly believe that one strong performance is equivalent to so many of your reels that you made, and so many times that you were papped,” he said.He also stressed that talent needs opportunity. Citing Amitabh Bachchan’s rise after early setbacks, he said, “It’s the opportunity that you get that makes an actor what he is. So I feel all actors are the same. It’s the opportunities that differ.”Suman also praised Rakesh Bedi’s role in ‘Dhurandhar’. He recalled Bedi telling him, “Sheku, you have to watch this film, Dhurandhar, which I have done. You will really love me. It’s a great film.”Suman said the role surprised him and credited the director, script and character for giving Bedi room to perform. He also praised Aditya Dhar’s direction, the editing, cinematography and background score. He said the film kept viewers engaged despite its length, adding that audiences were “sitting on the edge of their seats.”