Dulquer Salmaan on boycott culture and films: 'Does not exist in the south; I only heard about it in Bollywood'

Chup, Dulquer Salmaan's follow-up to Sita Ramam's huge success, is set to be released soon. The Balki-directorial is Dulquer's third Hindi movie after The Zoya Factor and Karwaan. Recently, he was questioned over the ongoing ‘boycott culture’, and the Kurup actor claims that south India has no such thing. 

He stated during an interview with a leading English news channel, “Social media has contributed to a growth in the boycott culture. Because anything may be written, irresponsible individuals can begin with any agenda. The south does not have a cancel culture. This is the first time I've heard it in Bollywood.”

The success of Sita Ramam in the south led the producers to decide to release it in Hindi. The movie's OTT platform debut has generated favourable reactions. Dulquer was asked about the trend of pan-Indian films and his ambitions to star in one as one of the few performers who can perform in many languages. He said that the films of Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth were always pan-Indian. “This term has been overused. It isn't a brand-new notion.”

Dulquer spoke about how he doesn't understand the concept of pan-India. “I concur that some stories are suitable for everyone. The love story of an army officer is similar to one in a recent movie of mine. You can pitch it anywhere, but I think it's strange to call it 'pan-India'. I don't see an article or an interview without this word now.”

On September 23, Chup, starring Dulquer Salmaan, Sunny Deol, Pooja Bhatt, and Shreya Dhanwanthary, will be released. At the box office, the Balki-directorial will compete with Dhokha Round D Corner.

Chup: Revenge of the Artist, according to Balki, is an effort to examine the agony experienced by an artist who is evaluated after displaying a creation in public.

He recently stated, “For me, (it) was about empathy towards artists. One of the best artists who endured unfair criticism was Guru Dutt saab (sir). Now, everyone in the same neighbourhood is referring to Kaagaz Ke Phool as a 'masterpiece'. It has irony. How badly must that person have felt at that moment?”