Only in recent online forums I saw people call Madhuri looking 'older' than Salman, Aamir and SRK in HAHK, Dil and DTPH.
Only now we see controversies over progressive messages in ads and films.
Only now we see people judge actors over weight or looks too much. I mean I was watching a video of Dilbar mere song from Satte pe Satta and someone in comments claimed Hema looked 'like Amitabh's mom in the song'. Huh? Audience back then accepted Hema wholeheartedly and that film was a hit despite Hema being pregnant during shooting of that song. No one bothered about her weight then.
Nor did audience think Madhuri looked older than Khans. Films like Saajan, HAHK, DTPH, Dil became superhits back then.
Earlier even pimples, fine lines, pits, under eye bags and bit of receding hairline or paunch of actors like Rajesh Khanna used to be visible but it did not affect their stardom. They still gave hits.
One can see pimples on faces of Padmini Kolhapure and Madhuri Dixit in their earlier films in 80s. But they still gave hits.
Moushimi Chatterjee had uneven teeth but still succeeded as an actress. Ajay Devgan and Mithun were dark skinned and Ajay even had uneven teeth, still they succeeded as actors and gave hits.
Films like Sujata, Nastik, Zakhm, OMG, Jaadugar, Eeshwar, Guide, Ram Teri Ganga Maili openly touched issues like caste, untouchability, superstitions, fake godmen, inter caste marriages, widow remarriage, communal riots, atheism, commodification of religion but there was no hue and cry accusing them of hurting sentiments or targeting religion or culture.
Almost all hit films of Manmohan Desai such as Amar Akbar Anthony, Naseeb etc have theme of communal harmony and interfaith relationships. I never heard of that filmmaker or stars being targeted for doing those films.
Has today's audience become more judgemental, nitpicking, intolerant, regressive and indulges more in body shaming expecting unrealistic standards from actors?
I cannot imagine RDB or PK being made or released today. I cannot imagine how Madhuri and Padmini would be treated if they debuted today- perhaps people would focus more on the pimples on their faces than their talent and acting? I cannot imagine today's audience accepting Om Puri or Pankaj Kapur in any role, the way 80s audience accepted them despite chicken pox marks on their faces.
Is today's audience more nitpicky, intolerant and expects unrealistic conformity to perfectionist standards of looks and conformity to traditional or orthodox socio cultural norms? Was audience of past years comparatively more tolerant and open minded?
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