Actor Varun Badola, who recently appeared in the blockbuster Saiyaara, is making waves with his candid take on the ongoing “Star vs Content” debate. With the film’s massive success—fronted by newcomers
Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda—many have been quick to suggest that star power may no longer be a necessity in Bollywood. But Badola isn’t buying into that narrative entirely.
In a recent interview with Nayandeep Rakshit on his YouTube channel, the veteran actor pushed back against the idea that Saiyaara’s success proves audiences have moved beyond the need for big stars. According to him, the requirement for star power depends entirely on the scale and nature of a project.
Drawing a direct comparison between megastar Shah Rukh Khan and debutant Ahaan Panday, Badola explained, “Abhi tum Ahaan Panday ko utha ke Jawan mein daalo, Jawan flop ho jayegi. Shah Rukh ko Saiyaara mein daal do, Saiyaara flop ho jayegi.”
In other words, casting a star in a project not tailored for them—or a newcomer in a mega spectacle—could equally spell disaster.
Elaborating on this point, he said that Shah Rukh Khan’s superstardom would be “too big” for an intimate story like Saiyaara, while Ahaan, at this stage in his career, wouldn’t have the persona or gravitas to carry a large-scale action entertainer like Jawan.
Directed by Mohit Suri, Saiyaara tells the story of Krish Kapoor (played by Ahaan Panday), a musician, and Vaani Batra (Aneet Padda), a writer, whose lives intertwine in a tale of love and self-discovery. The film also stars Rajesh Kumar, Shaad Randhawa, Neil Bhoopalam, and Varun Badola himself as Krish’s father, Ashok Kapoor. Badola’s performance has been widely appreciated, adding depth to the emotional core of the film.
While the conversation around nepotism and the rise of content-driven cinema has dominated industry chatter in recent years, Badola believes that dismissing the role of stars entirely oversimplifies the equation. “It’s about matching the right talent to the right story,” he implied, suggesting that both elements—star power and content—must work in harmony rather than in competition.
The 51-year-old actor, known for his versatile performances across television and film, is also part of the newly released War 2. Reflecting on his decades in the industry, Badola sees the current shift as an evolution rather than an overthrow. The traditional model where a superstar’s name alone could guarantee a hit has been challenged, but in his view, it has transformed into a more nuanced dynamic where compelling content now stands as an equal co-star.
“Saiyaara doesn’t prove that stars are irrelevant,” he seemed to say with conviction—it proves that when the right actors meet the right story, audiences respond, whether those actors are newcomers or industry legends.
