Bollywood or Hollywood may not see another Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise or Michael Jackson, actor-model Milind Soman explains why

Milind Soman has always been unapologetic in speaking his mind. The actor-model and now fitness enthusiast manages to steal the spotlight with his lean physique and challenging workout diaries. But behind his public persona is a man who speaks the truth from experience. In his latest interview, the 60-year-old has shared his two cents on how the era of globally dominant movie stars is slowly fading away. According to him, it’s the audience who are the true drivers of this change, as in the present age, they are consuming content in a personalized manner.

Milind Soman reflects on fading superstar era

Milind Soman, in a conversation with news agency IANS, said, ‘The more fragmented it all gets, the smaller the stars will be, because they are all niche. Nobody is overarching everything else anymore.’ He added that legendary icons like Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan stand in a league of their own. Perhaps no one will ever be able to replicate a similar cultural influence like theirs.

Milind Soman, who shot to fame for his modelling career, admitted that fans across generations still shower him with admiration. But the idea of stardom has shifted big time over the years, especially because the audience has become much more fragmented. He noted that while some individuals may continue to idolize their favourite stars, the era when a single personality could command universal attention across industries is gradually disappearing into dust. This was true for both Hollywood and Bollywood.

Changing audience habits are reshaping stardom

Taking the names of some Hollywood legends like Clint Eastwood, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Tom Cruise, Milind Soman said that much like Big B and Rajinikanth, these iconic stars were able to achieve unparalleled success around the world. The same trend was true for the music industry, featuring global stalwarts such as Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, and Madonna. But with their gradual fading relevance comes the end of an era of mass stardom, claimed Milind.

In conclusion, Milind Soman stated that the reason for the change was due to the changing habits of the audience. Today’s consumers are focused on highly specified genres and interests, watching movies or listening to songs based on their personal preferences. This has resulted in a fragmented cultural landscape, making it increasingly difficult for any single personality to capture universal attention the way legendary stars once did.

Workwise, Milind Soman will next be seen in the upcoming Tamil series, Kaattaan, which will be released on JioHotstar on March 27, 2026.