What if the glitz of Bollywood is hiding a quiet crisis—and the very artists who make it shine are the ones paying the price?
Behind every red-carpet photo and box-office headline lies an industry running on uncertainty, unpaid dues, fragile mental health, and a brutal numbers game. In a rare, brutally honest conversation, **Alexx O'Nell, Vishakha Singh, and Kashika Kapoor** have pulled back the curtain on Bollywood's **unseen battles**—and the reforms they say can no longer wait.[1] ## The fragile foundation of Bollywood Financing a film in India is still a high-wire act with no safety net.[1] Unless you are tied to a **big studio, major platform, or a "known" name**, raising money is an uphill climb.[1] - **Banks and formal institutions** rarely back creative projects.[1] - **Private investors** chase "big star" vehicles, sidelining new voices and smaller stories.[1] - Even after money is raised, **plans collapse overnight**—OTT approvals shift, release windows move, actors' dates fall through, and budgets get slashed.[1] This is not just about inconvenience. It is about years of work evaporating in a day, livelihoods at stake, and careers constantly on the brink. ## Living under the tyranny of numbers Few industries **quantify human worth** as aggressively as Bollywood.[1] Alexx O'Nell talks openly about the suffocating weight of: - **Box-office numbers** - **Social media metrics** - Constant evaluation of "value" rather than craft[1] When numbers become the only language that matters, artists are reduced to "performing data points"—forever chasing trends, algorithms, and opening weekend figures instead of building lasting, meaningful work. ## The forgotten power of theatre For Alexx, the antidote begins in a place Bollywood increasingly treats as an afterthought: **theatre**.[1] He calls theatre the training ground where: - **Humility, discipline, and emotional honesty** are forged[1] - You **earn your place every night** in front of a live audience[1] Today, theatre is often dismissed as a **"hobby" rather than a foundation**.[1] Alexx argues that real investment in theatre could transform the industry: - **Entitlement would shrink** - **Preparation would deepen** - **Opportunities would be earned by ability, not lineage**[1] In other words, a stronger theatre ecosystem could rewire Bollywood's DNA—from inherited privilege to earned proficiency. ## The structural chaos nobody wants to talk about Actor-producer Vishakha Singh doesn't mince words: the business side of the industry is broken, and it's costing everyone—especially those without power.[1] She calls for: - **Standardised, fair contracts** - **Clear payment timelines** - **Scheduling discipline** - **Real penalties for breaches and unprofessional conduct**[1] Because right now, too many people are: - Working without clarity on remuneration - Left hanging for months (or longer) on payments - Watching schedules move with zero accountability This isn't merely "part of the hustle"—it is systemic exploitation dressed up as "passion" and "struggle." ## A digital wave few are truly prepared for Vishakha also points out that the game has already changed.[1] - **Digital and OTT** are now the biggest engines of growth.[1] - **Audience behaviour has shifted**—attention spans, formats, expectations.[1] - **Content cycles are faster** and so is **fame**.[1] For producers, this means navigating: - Tighter budgets - Faster churn - Constant reinvention[1] For actors and talent, it means understanding that: - Fame is now **faster—but also more fragile** - Careers can spike and fade in a single content cycle[1] Her core message: **the industry needs preparation**—from producers, actors, and all talent alike—to survive and thrive in this new ecosystem, not just nostalgia for an old one.[1] ## The real cost of silence Perhaps the most chilling insight from this conversation is this: **the system rewards silence early, then punishes it later**.[1] - Stay quiet about exploitation, delays, or unfairness—and you might get called "professional" and "easy to work with."[1] - Speak up too late—after years of swallowing it—and you are labeled "difficult" or "bitter."[1] In that gap between silence and speech, careers stall, mental health erodes, and people quietly exit an industry they once loved. ## So what needs to change? The reforms Alexx, Vishakha, and Kashika implicitly and explicitly point toward are not cosmetic—they're foundational:[1] - **Finance reform** - Access to institutional funding for creative projects - Better support systems for non-star-driven films - **Contractual reform** - Clear, standardised agreements - Enforceable payment schedules and penalties - **Cultural reform** - Reinvesting in **theatre and training** - Shifting focus from vanity metrics to craft - **Ecosystem reform** - Preparedness for a **digital-first world** - Fairer risk-sharing between platforms, producers, and talent[1] None of this will happen by accident. It requires conversation, pressure, and collective will—from inside and outside the industry. --- If you care about cinema beyond the gloss, your voice matters. **What do you think needs to change first—finance, contracts, culture, or audience expectations?** Share your thoughts in the comments, pass this on to someone who loves films, and spark this conversation in your circles. The more we talk about these unseen battles, the harder they become to ignore.Citations
1.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/alexx-onell-vishakha-singh-and-kashika-kapoor-break-silence-on-industrys-unseen-battles-and-the-reforms-it-urgently-needs-exclusive/articleshow/126467515.cms
2.https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/box-office/exclusive-hindi-film-industry-sets-up-5-tentpole-projects-for-2026-with-border-2-king-love-and-war-ramayana-and-salman-khans-next-1348997
3.https://iol.co.za/thepost/bollywood/2026-01-02-south-indian-cinemas-influence-reigns-as-bollywood-gears-up-for-a-blockbuster-2026/
4.https://economictimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/stars-aligning-for-a-reel-good-2026-in-bollywood/articleshow/126401344.cms
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