“Bollywood has lost its passion”; This actor praises South Indian cinema for its dedication to craft

At a star-studded event in Mumbai on Thursday, Sanjay Dutt, along with Shilpa Shetty and Dhruva Sarja, unveiled the teaser of their upcoming Kannada action drama KD The Devil. But it wasn’t just the film that grabbed attention; Dutt’s candid remarks about Bollywood’s changing priorities sparked a larger conversation about passion versus profit in the film industry.

“It’s Not About Numbers, It’s About Passion”

When asked about his growing involvement in South Indian cinema, Dutt said he admires the passion he finds in Tollywood and other industries down south.

 “I take back the passion, which Bollywood has lost. And I hope it comes back. That’s what I miss back home, the passion to make a good film,” he said.

Critiquing the current trend in Bollywood, he added, “You know, everything is about numbers back in Bollywood. But it’s not about numbers, it’s about passion.”

On Collaborating with South Superstars

Dutt also spoke warmly about working with Prabhas in Maruthi’s The Raja Saab. “He makes me eat a lot, Prabhas. He’s an amazing human being and a wonderful actor,” he laughed.
 The actor shared his admiration for South icons, calling Chiranjeevi “a beautiful soul” and Nagarjuna “a brother”. He praised Ram Pothineni as “a wonderful boy” from his Double iSmart experience.

“I Wasn’t Called Earlier”

Reflecting on his late entry into South cinema, Dutt joked, “It took me so much time to work here because aap logon ne bulaya nahi. Aap bulao, mai aajau. (You didn’t call me earlier. Call me, and I’ll come)”

Busy Times Ahead

While KD—The Devil hits screens on 10 July 2026, Dutt’s upcoming slate includes Akhanda 2 and The Raja Saab in Telugu, Dhurandhar and Baap in Hindi, and Sheran Di Kaum Punjabi in Punjabi.