Adil Hussain on tech and society: 'Lakshmi has taken over from Saraswati'
Synopsis
Adil Hussain's promotional chat for 'Max, Min and Meowzaki' turned into a sharp cultural diagnosis: that India has quietly traded Saraswati for Lakshmi — knowledge for wealth — and in doing so, fractured the very families and communities that once gave life its texture.
Key Takeaways
Adil Hussain spoke on the sidelines of promotions for 'Max, Min and Meowzaki' in Mumbai .
He described modern society as ‘fragmented’, citing the shift from joint to nuclear families as a key marker.
Hussain argued that technology and autonomy have redefined personal integrity and social values.
He used the Saraswati vs Lakshmi metaphor to contrast the old reverence for knowledge with today’s pursuit of wealth. 'Max, Min and Meowzaki' is directed by Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy and produced by SSO Productions ; it is currently in cinemas.
Actor Adil Hussain, currently appearing in the newly released film 'Max, Min and Meowzaki', has reflected on how technology and shifting social structures have fundamentally altered human relationships and the values that bind them. Speaking during the film's promotional activities in Mumbai, Hussain offered a candid and philosophical take on the fragmentation of modern society.
A Society Grown Apart
Hussain observed that increased personal autonomy and the pace of contemporary life have driven people further from one another. “I think it has changed a lot. It has changed in so many ways. We have become a fragmented society, fragmented families,” he said. The actor, who grew up in a joint family, noted that he now lives in a nuclear one — a shift he sees as emblematic of a broader social trend.
“When you are away from somebody for a long, long time, you forget the beauty of the nuances. We become so busy with our own personal lives,” he added. Hussain also pointed to the way individual identity has evolved: “You are more independent. You feel more autonomous. You can make your own decisions. Your integrity, the definition of your integrity changes because the society has changed.”
Saraswati vs Lakshmi: A Shift in Aspirations
Drawing on his own upbringing, Hussain illustrated how collective ambitions have transformed over generations. “In my childhood, in my home town, the most respected people were the professors and teachers. And I still remember that becoming a professor was the highest goal — that you are a man of knowledge. You are a man of Saraswati,” he recalled.
He noted a decisive cultural pivot: “Now Lakshmi has taken over. And the entire world is following Lakshmi.” While careful not to dismiss the importance of financial security, Hussain argued for a reordering of priorities. “Of course, we all need a little bit of money and help from Lakshmi to live well, not only to survive. But then Lakshmi should be led by Saraswati,” he said — suggesting that wealth ought to follow wisdom, not precede it.
About the Film
'Max, Min and Meowzaki' is written and directed by Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy and produced by Shael Oswal and Samiksha Oswal under the banner of SSO Productions, with Samiksha Oswal also serving as actor-producer. The film is currently running in cinemas across India.
Why It Resonates
Hussain’s remarks arrive at a moment when debates around screen addiction, the erosion of community bonds, and the primacy of economic success over intellectual or social values are gaining fresh urgency in India. His framing — rooted in personal experience rather than abstract theory — gives the conversation a grounded, accessible texture that cuts across generations.
Point of View
And education has quietly lost status to wealth accumulation. What makes his observation worth taking seriously is that it comes from lived experience — a joint-family childhood, a career in serious cinema — not from nostalgia alone. The harder question his remarks leave unanswered is structural: whether the systems that once elevated teachers — pay, prestige, community standing — were dismantled by technology or by policy neglect long before smartphones arrived.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Adil Hussain say about technology and relationships?
Adil Hussain said technology and modern life have made society more fragmented, with people becoming more autonomous but losing touch with the nuances of close relationships. He noted that shifting from joint to nuclear families has contributed to this growing distance between people.
What did Adil Hussain mean by 'Lakshmi has taken over from Saraswati'?
Hussain used the metaphor to contrast a past era in which teachers and professors held the highest social respect — representing Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge — with today’s world where wealth and financial success, symbolised by Lakshmi, have become the primary measure of status. He stressed that Lakshmi should ideally be guided by Saraswati, not the other way around.
What is the film 'Max, Min and Meowzaki' about?
'Max, Min and Meowzaki' is a recently released film written and directed by Padmakumar Narasimhamurthy and produced by Shael Oswal and Samiksha Oswal under SSO Productions. It is currently playing in cinemas across India.
Who has produced 'Max, Min and Meowzaki'?
The film is produced by Shael Oswal and Samiksha Oswal under the banner SSO Productions, with Samiksha Oswal also serving as actor-producer on the project.
Why are Adil Hussain's remarks significant?
His comments touch on widely felt but under-discussed shifts in Indian social values — the decline of intellectual prestige, the rise of individualism, and the role of technology in eroding community bonds. The remarks have drawn attention during a broader national conversation about screen culture and changing family structures.
