Bollywood Actor Piyush Mishra Slams Excessive Entourages, Praises South Indian Film Culture

As of November 2025, veteran Bollywood actor Piyush Mishra has joined the growing chorus of industry voices criticizing the excessive entourage culture prevalent in Hindi cinema. In a recent interview, Mishra shared his observations after working on the film "Indian 2" with acclaimed South Indian director S. Shankar.

Mishra was struck by Shankar's humble and approachable demeanor, despite being a highly successful filmmaker. "He is such a big director, but he came to introduce himself to me. I thought, such a big person, and he's speaking so humbly. The culture there is amazing," Mishra remarked.

In contrast, the actor was critical of the "strange stardom" he has witnessed in Bollywood, where actors often travel with massive entourages. "They have a lot of hang-ups. The actors have such a long entourage, 8-9 people will come with them, along with 12-14 bodyguards. Kya zarurat hai? Akeli jaan ho, aapko kaun maarne araha hai?" he questioned.

Mishra, known for his powerful performances in films like "Gangs of Wasseypur" and "Tamasha," revealed that he prefers to keep his own team lean, with only a make-up artist and a manager. He also praised Ranbir Kapoor, one of the younger stars he has worked with, for not indulging in such tantrums.

The debate around the rising entourage expenses in the film industry has been gaining traction, with other industry voices like Farah Khan also expressing concerns about the issue. As the industry grapples with these challenges, Piyush Mishra's candid observations provide a unique perspective on the contrasting cultures within Indian cinema.