Does a film star's stardom limit a filmmaker's creative liberty?

An aspect of cinema that surely cannot go unnoticed is the relationship between a film star and their fans. While stars often attract audiences and secure funding for projects, their immense popularity can limit filmmakers' ability to experiment with their stories and style of filmmaking.
The power of stardom
Stardom plays a huge role in the success of movies. Actors with huge fans, also termed "superstar actors" or "star actors" nowadays, often become close to the synonym of the "engine" driving the box office performance of the film, with their names alone ensuring audience turnout.
In Bollywood, stars like Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan have massive fan followings that influence producers to prioritize commercial viability over creative risks. Similarly, South Indian stars like Rajinikanth, Vijay, and Prabhas have unparalleled loyalty, often resulting in formulaic scripts made for their established personas.
Filmmakers frequently face pressure to align their projects with the star's brand identity. This nature of filmmaking can prevent producers from making any experimental films and using the "tested and trusted" formula.
Fan expectations and artistic freedom
Fan expectations significantly dictate the trajectory of star-driven films. In Indian cinema, audiences often expect stars to have a larger-than-life character, perform action-packed sequences, or deliver hard-hitting or emotional monologues or punchy dialogues that stay in the audience's heads. Not catering to these aspects may lead to the risk of a backlash, as die-hard fans or some casual audiences may reject unconventional portrayals.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who is known for his cult classics and raw films like 'Dev D' and 'Gangs of Wasseypur,' earlier shared why he doesn't work with big stars in the film industry. During an interaction with Film Companion, the 52-year-old director shared, "There are two sides to it. Everybody wants to work with me, but everybody wants to do a Dev.D with me. Everybody wants to do another Gangs of Wasseypur with me or another Manmarziyaan with me. What they think is the film that they want me to do with them. But nobody wants to do something new that I want to do with them."
He further stated that he did not want to repeat the work and wanted the actors to approach him without any conditions.
In another interview with Puja Talwar, as per a report by Mashable, Anurag Kashyap said, "Though I came here to make films, there was a time when I succumbed to it (the habit of chasing stars). Everybody was telling me, ‘Without stars you are doing this… imagine what you will do with stars.’ That’s when the tide turns the other way and the slide starts."
He also added, "If you don't cater to their fan base while working with a star, they will cancel you. And, my film did get cancelled because I was making my own movie. I am not catering to anybody's friends or fanbase. There's no such practice in other countries. So, there you have more freedom, and actors also play around. We are driven by hero-worshipping here."
As per a News18 report, director Ram Gopal Varma, during a press conference for his film 'Veerappan,' stated, "I have never worked with big stars. My stories have a raw and witty appeal to them, which the so-called stars don't like. When I did 'Rangeela' (in 1995), at that time Aamir (Khan) was not a big star."

He also added, "I take actors according to the requirement of the characters. I don't look at them through the stardom perspective," Varma said here at the press conference of his forthcoming biographical film 'Veerappan.'
While speaking with Etimes trade expert Taran Adarsh shared his thoughts on the influence of stardom on actors and filmmakers, "It has happened with the biggest of stars. I remember in the 70's and 80's, Amitabh Bachchan became such a huge name that writers, producers, and directors had to shape their stories around his stardom. Fortunately, those films were well-written, and that's why most of them worked at the box office. But with great success comes immense pressure. When an actor reaches a certain level, fans expect them to deliver a similar persona on screen repeatedly. Back then, audiences accepted it. However, in today’s time, repetition doesn’t work, people feel the actor is just doing the same thing over and over again."
Discussing the role of mass entertainers, he added, "Some say masala films don't work anymore, but that’s not true. If a film connects with the audience whether it's an entertainer, an emotional drama, or a historical epic it will succeed. Take 'Chhava,' for example. People said historical films don’t work, but it did. Even ‘Gadar 2,’ which came 22 years after the original, became a blockbuster. Audiences still crave massy entertainers, but execution matters. Sunny Deol fits into such roles naturally, and that’s why his films work."
Challenges in experimentation
The dominance of stardom often leads to formulaic filmmaking. In Bollywood, masala films that feature action, romance, and melodrama are made to capitalize on star power rather than explore innovative themes. South Indian cinema faces similar constraints, with films frequently revolving around hero-centric stories that project the star's charisma.
This trend discourages filmmakers from pursuing experimental projects that might not go with a star's established image. For instance, bold stories like psychological thrillers or minimalist dramas may struggle to find acceptance among fans who expect glorious films.

Balancing stardom and creativity
Despite the challenges posed by stardom, some filmmakers successfully balance commercial appeal with artistic integrity. Directors like SS Rajamouli, known for his blockbusters like 'Eega,' 'Baahubali,' and 'RRR,' demonstrated that it's possible to make compelling stories while utilizing star power effectively.
Rajamouli's 'Baahubali' series showcased Prabhas in a larger-than-life role but also featured intricate world-building and innovative storytelling techniques. In 'Eega,' a key topic of discussion was the technology used to make a film like that, which revolves around a housefly, and 'RRR,' which received global praise for its VFX and realistic visual effects.
Similarly, Zoya Akhtar's 'Gully Boy' leveraged Ranveer Singh's charisma while focusing on the details and struggles of Mumbai's underground rap scene.
Stardom undeniably shapes filmmaking in Indian cinema by attracting audiences and securing funding. However, it often limits creative liberty due to fan expectations and commercial pressures but also leaves room for compelling stories.