Dulquer Salmaan, a prominent figure in Indian cinema known for his work across Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi film industries, recently shared his experiences in Bollywood, revealing that his initial years were not as smooth as one might expect.
In a recent roundtable discussion with The Hollywood Reporter India, Salmaan recounted instances where he felt "pushed around" on Hindi film sets. He described a culture where perceived stardom, often gauged by superficial displays like arriving in a fancy car with a large entourage, dictated the treatment an actor received. "When I did Hindi films here, my two people that I would come with, we would just get pushed around on sets," Salmaan explained. "I had to create this illusion of being this big star, otherwise I wouldn't find a chair to sit on". He also noted that he sometimes struggled to find a place to stand behind the monitor due to overcrowding.
Salmaan, who debuted in Bollywood with Karwaan in 2018, suggested that the sheer magnitude of the Hindi film industry might contribute to such behavior. He reflected on a conversation with Rana Daggubati, where they discussed how the Hindi industry's vast reach—encompassing numerous theaters, markets, and Hindi-speaking states—contrasts with the more localized nature of industries like Malayalam cinema. "Maybe, the size of the Hindi industry influences things," he stated. He added, "I just couldn't understand. I don't want to be mean to any industry, but I guess it's a cultural thing".
The actor contrasted this Bollywood experience with the more grounded approach he is used to in the Malayalam film industry. He emphasized the need for adaptability when working across different industries. Despite these initial challenges, Salmaan has continued to work in Hindi cinema, appearing in films like The Zoya Factor (2019), Chup: Revenge of the Artist (2022) and the series Guns & Gulaabs (2023).
Salmaan's reflections offer a glimpse into the dynamics of Bollywood and the pressures of maintaining a certain image. He expressed that he would prefer not to have to focus on projecting an image of stardom simply to gain basic respect and consideration on set.
On the professional front, Dulquer Salmaan was recently seen in the Tamil period drama Kaantha, which is scheduled to release on Netflix on December 12, 2025. He is also set to appear in the Malayalam film I'm Game.
