Something really refreshing came out from recent Filmfare conversation where Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna both openly talked about how they handle their careers — and honestly,the approach both of them follow is quite different from what most people assume happens in Bollywood.
Both actors basically said same thing — they don't rely on managers to make their creative decisions . They prefer to figure things out themselves . And in industry where external pressure and management interference is everywhere,that's not small thing to admit openly .
Sunny Deol during interview explained his thinking quite clearly . He said,"I believe every choice I make should resonate with me personally . It's essential to feel a connection to the characters I portray." And you can actually feel the conviction behind that statement.
His point was simple — when manager steps in between actor and role,that personal connection starts getting diluted . And for someone like Deol who has built career on raw emotional performances,that connection probably matters more than anything else.
Akshaye Khanna came from slightly different angle but landed at same place . He acknowledged that managers do help with logistics and day-to-day stuff,but core creative calls should come from actor only . He said,"In this industry,it's easy to get lost in noise . I prefer to listen to my instincts rather than someone else's vision for my career."
Honestly,that line about getting lost in the noise hits differently when you think about how Bollywood actually operates right now .
Three things that stood out from this conversation:
- Both Deol and Khanna stressed that personal instincts should drive creative decisions,not management.
- Akshaye Khanna acknowledged managers serve purpose in logistics but drew clear line at artistic choices.
- Sunny Deol connected his decision-making philosophy directly to how deeply he relates to his characters.
What makes this conversation interesting is that both these men are veterans . They have seen industry change dramatically over decades . So when they talk about protecting creative autonomy,it comes from real experience of watching what happens when actors slowly lose control of their own narratives .
And honestly,younger actors watching this probably took note . Because in current Bollywood where star management has become massive business,hearing two senior names openly say they prefer to work without that layer is genuinely striking .
Whether this kind of thinking actually becomes more common in industry or stays limited to few independent-minded veterans… that question honestly doesn't have clear answer yet
