Actor Saurabh Shukla, with over twenty years in the industry, has never equated success with luxury cars or other material symbols that frequently dominate discussions about actors today. In a field where perception can sometimes eclipse actual talent, he maintains a clear, somewhat traditional separation between personal decisions and professional value, emphasizing that they should not be conflated.
Although he acknowledges his appreciation for luxury, he insists it shouldn't define his identity as an actor. "I love driving and have a fondness for high-end cars," he remarks. "However, I prefer not to flaunt them. I want to be recognized for my work and talent. My choice of car or whether I display it doesn't determine my acting skills. These are entirely separate matters," he clarifies, challenging the increasing trend of associating lifestyle with success. "If you start to believe these things define you, then there's an issue. They are merely personal preferences, nothing more."
Expanding on his views, the actor discusses the growing reliance of the industry on public relations, hype culture, and image creation. The 63-year-old admits its importance, recognizing it as a crucial component of the ecosystem, yet he also points out its constraints.
Look, I operate without a PR team. Over the years, I haven't had any PR, and no one is discussing the tiles in my bathroom, nor should they. He continues, 'PR is important; it's a part of the strategy. It helps your work reach people and lets them know something is coming. However, it cannot substitute the work itself. You cannot rely solely on hype, because ultimately, the audience doesn't stick around for that. They stay for what you deliver on screen.'
Shukla, who recently directed Jab Khuli Kitab, mentions that unlike many of his peers in the highly visible industry, he has mostly avoided a continuous, personality-focused PR strategy. He states, "Throughout my career, I have never had a personal PR constantly supporting me. It has always been on a project-by-project basis." He adds, "But that never hindered me. People still recognize me and connect with my work. That has always sufficed, and that's how it should remain," he concludes.
