Thangalaan actor Daniel Caltagirone praises Indian filmmaking, says "Western cinema is dying…"

According to British actor Daniel Caltagirone, Western cinema is on the decline, while Indian films are poised to take centre stage. He believes that Hollywood has lost its direction amidst the proliferation of streaming services.

British actor Daniel Caltagirone plays the villainous Lord Clement in Pa Ranjith's Tamil period drama "Thangalaan," starring Vikram in the lead role. Caltagirone, known for his Hollywood films like "The Pianist," "Legionnaire," "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life," and "The Fall," expressed his privilege in making his Indian cinema debut at a time when Indian stars like Deepika Padukone are gaining global recognition.

In an interview with PTI, Daniel said, "There is a shift. Western cinema is dying… Something is happening, I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if it is because of streaming, but I urge people to not abandon cinema… Indian cinema is having an effect globally… ”Indian cinema is exciting, colourful, fun, and passionate. There is amazing old-school storytelling. It just throws you in whereas we have lost something in the West. It’s become dull, it’s become sort of too self-reflective. Indian filmmaking… you are one step away, you are so close to superseding Hollywood. Big Indian stars like Deepika… They are now presenting at the Oscars… This is unreal."

This is not Daniel Caltagirone's first experience working with Indian filmmakers. In 2002, he collaborated with Shekhar Kapur on "The Four Feathers," and in 2006, he worked with India-born American director Tarsem Singh on "The Fall."