'Hero nahi hai aaj ki date mein': Sajid Khan says Bollywood has lost its real heroes, finds true heroism in the South

In a candid and animated chat on Bharti TV with comedian Bharti Singh and writer-host Haarsh Limbachiyaa, filmmaker Sajid Khan dropped a truth bomb that’s got cinephiles and social media buzzing: Bollywood, he claims, no longer has heroes—just lead actors. With his signature wit and no-filter commentary, the director of hits like Heyy Babyy and Housefull offered a nostalgic yet piercing critique of the evolution—or perhaps dilution—of the Hindi film hero.

“Heroism is extinct in Bollywood”
Sajid didn’t mince words when comparing the golden age of cinema to the present. “Hero nahi hai aaj ki date mein. Leads hain,” he asserted, drawing a clear distinction between the classic ‘hero’ and today’s star. According to him, the term ‘hero’ in its true cinematic essence has all but disappeared from Bollywood, surviving only in the grand, morally upright, slow-mo-entry world of South Indian cinema.

His lament was not about acting skills or popularity, but about ethos. “The concept of a hero only really remains in the South,” he said. “That’s why their entry is dhamakedaar. They can’t take a wrong step on screen because they are heroes—heroes who represent society’s hopes, not just its fantasies.” His point struck deeper when he remarked, “That’s why we’ve never heard the word ‘super-lead’, only ‘superhero.’”

Of Angry Eyes and Six-Pack Abs
Turning the clock back, Sajid reflected on an era when Amitabh Bachchan’s furrowed brow, Vinod Khanna’s charismatic presence, and Dharmendra’s righteous fury were enough to command a crowd’s applause. “Earlier heroes didn’t need a good body,” he said. “The action was in the eyes, not the thighs.”

He took a playful yet pointed dig at today’s gym-obsessed generation of actors. “Now it’s mandatory to have six-packs,” Sajid quipped, recalling how Salman Khan had once stunned the industry with his chiseled look in Maine Pyaar Kiya. But for all the abs and aesthetic perfection, Sajid argued, what’s truly missing is the intensity. “Ranbir Kapoor’s training for Animal was impressive, but even without the body, his eyes carried the role,” he said, making a case for emotional authenticity over physical optics.

The Rise of the Southern Superstar
Sajid’s praise for Southern cinema was as loud as his critique of Bollywood. He pointed out how South Indian heroes still uphold the old-school notion of righteousness and larger-than-life presence. Their roles demand not only charisma but also moral weight—traits that once defined Hindi film icons. “There’s a reason why their films have grand entries and deafening cheers,” he said. “They’re not just actors; they’re cultural phenomena.”

Sunny Deol’s Desi Muscle vs. Designer Bodies
In a final reflection on changing physical standards, Sajid offered a surprising nod to Sunny Deol’s old-school appeal in Gadar 2. “That’s a desi body—not sculpted by protein shakes or luxury gyms, but strong, grounded, and real,” he noted. In contrast, he questioned whether Bollywood’s current obsession with aesthetics might be overshadowing the raw emotional power that once defined its heroes.

Whether you see Sajid Khan’s views as a much-needed reality check or a sentimental throwback to an era gone by, one thing’s for sure: the lines between ‘lead actor’ and ‘hero’ have blurred—and maybe it’s time for Bollywood to find its moral muscle again. Because as Sajid aptly put it, “Anyone can do a film now, but not everyone can be a hero.”