The Problem with Indian Celebrity Documentaries: PR Tools or Genuine Stories?
One of the reasons for Bollywood’s current slump is its reliance on PR, and a new extension of these PR efforts appears to be Indian celebrity documentaries.
In the past few years, there’s been an undeniable surge in Indian celebrity documentaries. The Romantics by Yash Raj Films, Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale, and the latest The Roshans on Netflix are just a few examples. While these documentaries promise to pull back the curtain on the lives of these larger-than-life personalities, they often leave viewers with a nagging sense of incompleteness.
Why? Because instead of offering a genuine exploration of their subjects, many of these projects feel like extended PR campaigns—sanitized, curated, and designed to reinforce the public personas of these celebrities, rather than providing a raw, meaningful glimpse into their lives.
The Lost Promise of “Behind the Fairytale”
Take Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale, for instance. The title alone sets the expectation that viewers will witness a deeper, more personal account of the actress’s life—her struggles, her journey, and the complexities that come with being a superstar. For a celebrity who often stays away from the media and has been at the cusp of controversies, Nayanthara’s documentary could have been the chance to truly express herself and share her side of the story with the fans who admire her dearly.

Instead, what we got was a polished, almost Instagram-like montage of her life. Beautiful to look at, yes, but lacking in substance. By the end, I found myself wondering, where exactly is the ‘beyond the fairytale’ part?
Similarly, Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous was framed as an intimate story of redemption and resilience. But in reality, it played out as “Honey Singh by Honey Singh,” with little room for introspection or critique. It felt like a subtle yet unmistakable attempt to reclaim his lost glory rather than an honest exploration of his life, struggles, and artistic evolution.
And then there’s The Roshans, which left many viewers scratching their heads, questioning its very purpose. What was it trying to achieve? What story was it attempting to tell? Unfortunately, it seemed more like a vanity project than a thoughtful documentary.
One Celebrity Documentary That Stood Out
In contrast, consider Angry Young Men, the documentary on Salim-Javed, the legendary screenwriting duo who reshaped the course of mainstream Indian cinema. This film didn’t hold back—it dove deep into their professional lives, how they crafted their iconic stories, their rationale behind writing gritty, unforgettable characters, and the personal dynamics of their partnership. It was raw, insightful, and a cinephile’s dream. Unlike most celebrity documentaries, Angry Young Men felt authentic because it didn’t shy away from exploring both the brilliance and the complexities of its subjects.
This is where the majority of Indian celebrity documentaries falter—they lack depth. Instead of delving into the layered realities of their subjects, they stick to the safe, glossy narratives that align with their public images.
The PR Problem
The root of this issue lies in intent. When a documentary is created primarily as a PR exercise, its purpose shifts from storytelling to brand building. Controversial or complex aspects are deliberately omitted, and the focus remains on glorification rather than humanization.
However, the true strength of a documentary lies in its ability to connect on a human level. For that, it needs to go beyond the persona we already know. It needs to show the cracks, the vulnerabilities, and the moments that shaped the celebrities into who they are today.
Why Authenticity Matters
In a world where everything feels scripted and curated, there’s a hunger for authenticity. Audiences want more than just a highlight reel of achievements—they want to see the messy, unscripted moments that make these individuals relatable. Documentaries have the power to humanize celebrities, breaking down the walls of stardom to reveal the person behind the image.
When done right, they can inspire and resonate deeply. A documentary like Miss Americana, which explored Taylor Swift’s struggles with public scrutiny and self-doubt, worked because it wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable. Indian audiences are ready for this kind of storytelling—raw, honest, and reflective of the complexities of life.
A Glimpse of Hope
Despite their shortcomings, Indian celebrity documentaries are helping to make the genre more mainstream, and that’s a step in the right direction. They’re paving the way for a larger conversation about the lives of celebrities and the narratives surrounding them.
The potential is immense. With the right approach, these films can go beyond mere PR and become a meaningful medium for storytelling. Filmmakers need to remember that audiences are smarter than they’re often given credit for—they can see through the gloss and crave content that is honest and real.

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