Dibyendu Bhattacharya Predicts Love Story Trend Boom After Saiyaara: 'Formula-Oriented Industry'

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Dibyendu Bhattacharya critiques Bollywood's formulaic success, foreseeing more love stories post Saiyaara's hit. He also admitted being a practical 'yes-man' sometimes.
Actor Dibyendu Bhattacharya, who is also a part of Anushka Sharma's Chakda Xpress, has seen enough of the industry to know exactly how it responds to success. In an exclusive chat with News18 Showsha, he spoke about how the film industry abides by certain formulas for a hit. Citing the example of recently released Saiyaara featuring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, Dibyendu predicted that Bollywood will now witness a flood of similar stories.
'This is a formula-oriented industry," he said. 'When one thing works, everyone follows it. I can guarantee this – now that Saiyaara has become a hit, there's going to be a mad rush among people to make love stories. Because that's what happens here. After Lagaan, there were 50 scripts about rural cricket. After Dil Chahta Hai, everyone started writing stories about four or five friends."
He also observed how the industry's current lack of storytelling diversity limits both creators and viewers. 'Right now, it's all about horror, ghost stories, and sometimes comedy that feels too forced or even boring. You wonder—why are we laughing at such random things?"
Dibyendu says his acting process is human, not technical
Despite being a trained actor from the National School of Drama, Dibyendu's approach to acting is intuitive rather than theoretical. 'I know all the theory —Grotowski, Natyashastra, Stanislavski. But ultimately, acting has to be human and heartfelt. If a character doesn't touch your heart, you can't connect with it."
He believes emotional honesty is key. 'I keep my eyes wide open in life. Every person is important because every personality is a unique human being. That's how I build my characters. Even in Jamtara, the guy I played didn't know right from wrong. His seniors were doing shady things, so he followed suit. There are many people like that – docile, grey, not black or white."
His deep interest in people, even those he doesn't like, drives his performances. 'If I dislike someone, I ask myself why. What is it about them that bothers me? That's how you build nuance," the actor said.
Dibyendu admits he is sometimes an 'yes-man' man person
Dibyendu admits he's not always selective about roles, and that's not necessarily a flaw. 'I'm a yes-man. When someone comes to me with a character, whether it's a newcomer or a successful director, I always say yes first. Then I look at the story, then at my role. I ask, is this character important? If you remove it, will the story still stand?"
But the decision is also practical. 'I'm not a part-time actor. I'm a professional. I run my household with this work. Sometimes I've gone a whole year without work. I'd cook, read, listen to CDs, watch TV. But you need money to survive. So I did small shows and films just to get by," he says.
He acknowledges that saying yes hasn't always paid off. 'There have been projects I've regretted, sure. But that's also part of the journey. Our industry is like an ocean – so many things happen. You survive, that's the goal."
Dibyendu says when he works very hard, but there are also moments of doing nothing
Dibyendu says he brings full energy to every set he's on. 'When I work, I work. Ask any director or co-actor, they'll tell you. It's a full-on party. I enjoy the process, order food, crack jokes. But when it's time to prep, I isolate myself. I memorise my lines, get into the zone. And after shoot? I'm back to being with everyone, laughing."
And when there's no work? 'I can sit in one place all day doing nothing – just staring at a tree. I love that kind of stillness. It's bliss," Dibyendu concludes and signs off.
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First Published:
August 04, 2025, 19:20 IST
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