Makarand Deshpande slams Bollywood’s depiction of mental illness

Theatre and film actor Makarand Deshpande, who plays a mentally-disturbed character in his next, says that Bollywood films haven’t depicted mental illness accurately

Celebrated theatre and film personality Makarand Deshpande has always been choosy about his work, and he doesn’t regret his limited filmography. “I have never considered anything a setback. I have barely pushed myself (to do films) because I have been content with the work I do in theatre,” he says.

“We have a habit of not giving people the real picture,” says Makarand Deshpande, while talking about how mental illness isn’t accurately displayed in Hindi films. (Aalok Soni/HT Photo)

Makarand comes across as a confident and secure artiste. However, if there’s one thing in the entertainment industry that he is not happy about, it’s the quality of film criticism. “Film critics are here only to make their presence felt. That should not be the case. When it comes to film criticism, I feel the sense of responsibility is lacking somewhere. Sometimes, reviewers have no idea about the kind of effort that goes into making a film,” he says.

Read: Making Rs.100 crore films not my ambition: Makarand Deshpande

The 50-year-old actor will play a mentally-disturbed character in his upcoming film. He feels that in comparison to Hollywood, “Bollywood hasn’t done a good job” in its depiction of mental disorders. “We have a habit of not showing people the real picture,” he adds.

Makarand Deshpande’s book, Ansh, chronicles the madness of the man (who was once caught brushing his teeth inside Prithvi Theatre) and his plays.

Read: Makarand Deshpande’s new book chronicles the madness of the man and his plays