Veteran actor Seema Pahwa is set to appear on Shardul Pandit’s podcast, Uncensored With Shardul, where she shares her candid thoughts on the growing influence of social media stars in Bollywood. In a teaser for the upcoming episode, Pahwa expresses concern over the increasing focus on social media metrics, such as likes and reels, as a measure of fame in the film industry.
Seema Pahwa on the ‘Influencer Culture’ in Bollywood
In the teaser clip, Pahwa, known for her role in Gangubai Kathiawadi, reflects on how the rise of influencers is affecting the traditional acting industry. Speaking in Hindi, she remarked, “Nowadays, there’s a new disease of influencers. I think we should leave the industry because how can we stand with them? You’ve earned fame by posting 20 reels; it took me 50 years to achieve that. How are you standing equal to me?”
She went on to criticize the way casting decisions are being influenced by social media popularity. “I’m sad to say this to my industry, to casting directors and producers—you can’t do this. The audience may be watching influencers on reels, but these producers say, ‘This is a famous face; their likes have increased a lot. Put them in your film.’”
The statement highlights Pahwa’s frustration with the current trend where social media influencers, with little to no acting experience, are being offered significant roles in films due to their online popularity.
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Podcast Host Teases Upcoming Episode
Sharing the promo on his Instagram, podcast host Shardul Pandit wrote, “@seemabhargavapahwa asks a very important question in this upcoming episode of #uncensoredwithshardul. What do you think?” The episode featuring Seema Pahwa’s views on influencers will be released on October 18.
About Seema Pahwa
Seema Pahwa is a veteran actor with a career spanning decades. She began her journey with a Delhi theatre group and became a household name as ‘Badki’ in the classic TV series Hum Log on Doordarshan. Known for her versatility, Pahwa has appeared in acclaimed films like Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Bareilly Ki Barfi, and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan. She made her directorial debut in 2019 with Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi and has been honored with several awards, including a Filmfare Award and a Filmfare OTT Award.
