Veteran filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, the mind behind Bollywood classics like Munna Bhai MBBS and 3 Idiots, recently opened up about how fame and success in the film industry can drastically change people — especially those who once worked under him.
In a candid chat during the Creator x Creator episode hosted by SCREEN, Chopra sat down with filmmaker Jaskunwar Kohli, who made the documentary Zero Se Restart on the making of Chopra’s critically acclaimed film 12th Fail. When Kohli asked why Chopra prefers hiring fresh faces and newcomers, the filmmaker had a brutally honest answer.
“There’s more honesty in people who are new, less corruption,” Chopra said. “Many of the people who once assisted me have now become successful directors. But when I meet them today, I see a huge difference. Back then, there was a certain purity in them. But one hit film can change everything.”
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He explained that success often leads to arrogance and a shift in personality — something he’s observed first-hand.
Although he didn’t name any filmmakers, Chopra didn’t hold back when it came to actors. “I’ve worked with so many – Mission Kashmir was Hrithik Roshan’s first film, Vidya Balan started with Parineeta, Boman Irani too… the list goes on. I’ve seen all of them change after finding success. That’s why I love working with people who are nobodies. Because once someone becomes ‘somebody’, they’re never the same again.”
Chopra didn’t stop there. He also took a dig at the current state of Bollywood, saying people today are more focused on commercial success than meaningful storytelling. “Now, it’s all about box office numbers. Nobody talks about creativity or having a vision anymore. One big hit — say a ₹400 crore blockbuster — and suddenly people start walking differently,” he said.
To prove his point, he shared a hilarious anecdote about an old producer friend whose attitude completely changed after delivering a successful film.
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“There was this producer I knew — always very humble and soft-spoken. Then one day, he met me chest puffed out, voice booming. I asked him, ‘Did your film become a hit or something?’ He replied, ‘Sir, you know everything. Yes, it did.’ I told him I had no clue his film did well. But I could see his spine was suddenly connected to his bank balance. These days, people’s backs straighten not because of self-worth but because of their earnings.”
Ending on a sharp note, Chopra said, “That’s the problem now — everyone’s spine is linked to their bank account, not the quality of their work.”
With 12th Fail winning hearts and critics alike, Chopra proves that even in today’s fame-obsessed industry, passion and storytelling can still shine — if you’re willing to stay grounded