Archive · 16 Nov 2025
Mahesh Bhatt Calls Social Media Era 'Dark Times' for Free Expression
Imagine if everyone on the internet is shouting to get attention.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt says this is like 'dark times' for movies and shows because it's hard to share deep or new ideas.
He feels that the entertainment world today, especially with social media, cares more about getting lots of likes than about telling a thoughtful story.
Because of computers and new technologies like AI, it's easier for powerful people to stop creators from sharing ideas that go against the grain.
This means creators are afraid to be passionate and bold, often told to just write a book if they want to say something important.
He misses the days when some movies dared to speak up, even if they were ignored.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt described the current social media era as 'dark times' for free expression in entertainment.
He argued that the entertainment industry's pursuit of attention, amplified by social media, empowers the establishment to silence dissenting voices.
Bhatt expressed concern that algorithms and AI push creators toward safer choices, stifling passionate and nuanced expression.
He noted that creators face pressure to conform and often have their bold ideas dismissed before they can be fully developed.
Bhatt contrasted the current climate with earlier times when fewer, but still some, films dared to speak out, even if isolated.
- Who
- Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt
- What
- Stated that the social media era has created 'dark times' for free expression in the entertainment industry, arguing that the focus on attention and the power of algorithms and AI stifle nuanced and passionate expression.
- When
- Saturday
- Where
- A panel discussion with Kapil Sibal
- Why
- Bhatt believes the digital age, particularly social media, empowers the establishment to suppress dissenting voices and that algorithms encourage safer, less passionate choices, making it difficult for creators to express bold ideas.
Mahesh Bhatt's View
Implicit Counter-Argument
Impact of Social Media on Expression
Mahesh Bhatt's View
Social media, with its focus on attention and powerful algorithms, enables the establishment to silence dissenting voices and makes it harder for creators to express themselves freely, leading to 'dark times' for free expression.
Implicit Counter-Argument
While acknowledging the challenges, this perspective assumes that social media and algorithms inherently stifle expression. An alternative view might suggest these platforms, despite their flaws, also offer new avenues for reaching audiences and diverse voices can still find platforms, albeit with challenges.
Creator's Pressure and Risk
Mahesh Bhatt's View
Creators face immense pressure to conform and 'play it safe' due to algorithms and the entertainment industry's focus on attention, leading to the crushing of bold ideas before they can even be fully developed.
Implicit Counter-Argument
This perspective implies that the current climate is inherently restrictive. A counter-argument could be that while risks exist, the desire for bold expression, though perhaps more difficult to manifest, still exists and finds ways to emerge.
- Speaker
- Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt
- Event
- Panel discussion with Kapil Sibal
- Date
- Saturday
- Bhatt's Main Concern
- Social media era has created 'dark times' for free expression in entertainment.
- Reasons Cited
- Industry's chase for attention, power of algorithms and AI, establishment's ability to silence dissent.