Pallavi Joshi, known for her work in politically charged films like ‘The Kashmir Files,’ ‘The Vaccine War,’ and now ‘The Bengal Files,’ has shared why she prefers working with trained actors instead of big stars. Speaking about her and husband Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s films, Joshi explained that their cinema is about characters, not celebrity image.
Pallavi Joshi believes big stars overshadow character roles
Joshi explained that casting big stars often means their larger-than-life image overshadows the character itself. Using Shah Rukh Khan as an example, she told India.com, “When you cast stars, you cast the image of the stars. Ab main kitna bhi ek character likhdu agar bahuat badiya character hai, police inspector hai, puri duniya se lar raha hai, agar main aisa pura character likhu aur Shah Rukh Khan ko cast karu, vo kitna bhi apne aapko samarpit kare character keliye, lekin jab tak vo apna signature element na daalein, log unko pasand nahi karenge. Toh Shah Rukh Khan ke character se phele Shah Rukh Khan ki image aana bahut zaruri hai. Toh isliye, vo jis tarah ki films karte hain, vo image-driven films hoti hain, aur humari character-driven films hoti hain.”(When you cast stars, you are essentially casting their image. No matter how strong a role I write, say, a police inspector who is fighting the whole world, if I cast Shah Rukh Khan in that role, no matter how dedicated he is, until he adds his signature style, the audience won’t fully accept him. For them, before the character, Shah Rukh Khan’s image has to come through. That’s why his films are image-driven, while ours are character-driven.)
Joshi values actors who fully become characters
Pallavi emphasized that in their films, actors must fully immerse themselves in their characters. She said it is important that the audience sees the character, not the actor. Joshi explained that this approach demands a lot of hard work, as simply being present on screen is not enough. An actor must actively perform and bring the role to life, because mere presence or star power cannot carry a film. True acting, she stressed, is essential for their storytelling style.
She insists on trained actors for authenticity
According to Joshi, trained actors are crucial because they can bring authenticity and depth to the story, something star-driven films can’t always guarantee. Their cinema is built around storytelling and characters, not just star presence.’The Bengal Files’ was released in cinemas today on September 5.Apart from Pallavi Joshi, the film features Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar, and Simratt Kaur.