Manish Raisinghani: 'More rooted the emotion, more global the story'
Synopsis
Manish Raisinghani's take cuts through the noise of 'globalisation' debates in cinema: authenticity, not universalisation, is what makes stories travel. His examples — Dangal in China, DDLJ across decades — back the argument that emotional specificity is the most powerful export strategy Indian filmmakers have.
Key Takeaways
Manish Raisinghani argues that emotionally rooted stories have the strongest global appeal, regardless of language or geography.
He cited Dangal 's massive success in China and the cross-border legacy of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge as evidence.
Subtitles and dubbing have largely dismantled the language barrier, with Indian audiences now actively consuming Korean dramas .
Raisinghani highlighted the distinct worldviews of Rajkumar Hirani , S.
Rajamouli , Anurag Kashyap , and Aditya Dhar as models of perspective-driven filmmaking.
He made his debut in Teen Bahuraniyaan and is best known for Sasural Simar Ka ; he has also worked in vertical storytelling formats.
Actor and filmmaker Manish Raisinghani believes that authentic, emotionally grounded storytelling is the most reliable passport a film or series can carry — one that transcends geography, language, and culture. Speaking on the universal appeal of cinema, Raisinghani argued that emotions are naturally borderless, and that the deeper a story is rooted in human truth, the wider its global resonance.
Cinema as a Universal Language
'A good story doesn't carry a passport; it carries the truth,' said Raisinghani, encapsulating his philosophy on cross-cultural storytelling. He noted that the traditional barrier of language has been substantially eroded in the streaming era, with subtitles and dubbing making international content readily accessible to audiences worldwide.
Raisinghani pointed to the surging popularity of Korean dramas among Indian viewers as a prime example of how audiences have grown more receptive to content from unfamiliar cultures. In the reverse direction, he cited Dangal — the Aamir Khan-led wrestling drama — which went on to become a massive commercial success in China, grossing hundreds of crores in a market with no prior affinity for Indian sports narratives.
The Timeless Power of Rooted Stories
Raisinghani also invoked the enduring global footprint of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol-led romantic classic, as evidence that deeply Indian stories can achieve timeless cross-border appeal. For him, these are not exceptions but proof of a principle: specificity of emotion creates universality of impact.
'People buy tickets to watch how you think,' he said, framing storytelling as fundamentally an exercise in perspective-sharing. He argued that filmmakers build audiences not through spectacle alone, but through the distinctiveness of their worldview.
India's Diverse Directorial Voices
Raisinghani highlighted the range of Indian filmmaking sensibilities as an asset for global storytelling. He pointed to Rajkumar Hirani's emotional warmth, S. S. Rajamouli's epic imagination, Anurag Kashyap's unflinching realism, and Aditya Dhar's raw intensity as distinct worldviews that have each carved out loyal audiences — domestically and internationally.
'The more rooted the emotion, the more global the story becomes,' he concluded, reinforcing that authenticity, not universalisation, is the key to crossing borders.
About Manish Raisinghani
Raisinghani made his acting debut in the television serial Teen Bahuraniyaan and rose to wider recognition through his portrayal of Siddhant Bharadwaj in Sasural Simar Ka. He has since appeared in shows including Kaahin Kissii Roz and Kahiin to Hoga. More recently, he has extended his work into vertical storytelling formats, with projects such as Fake Boyfriend Ka Funda, Tapori Bana Papa, Race Ka Badshah, Engineer Number 1, Jail Ka King, and Jallad CEO. His dual role as actor and filmmaker informs his perspective on the craft of storytelling at a time when Indian content is gaining unprecedented global traction.
Point of View
Where algorithms surface content across borders daily. What mainstream coverage of 'Indian content going global' often misses is the distinction he draws: it is not Bollywood's scale or spectacle that travels, but its specificity. Dangal worked in China not because it was made for China, but because a father's ambition for his daughters is a story every culture already knows. The more interesting question — which Raisinghani gestures at but does not fully address — is whether the vertical storytelling formats he himself is working in can sustain that emotional depth, or whether they flatten it in the chase for scroll-stopping hooks.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Manish Raisinghani's view on global cinema?
Manish Raisinghani believes that emotionally authentic storytelling naturally transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. He argues that the more rooted an emotion is in a story, the broader its global appeal — and that language is no longer a significant barrier given the availability of subtitles and dubbing.
Which Indian films did Manish Raisinghani cite as examples of global appeal?
He cited Dangal, which became a major commercial success in China, and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol-led classic, as examples of deeply Indian stories achieving lasting cross-border resonance.
Which Indian filmmakers did Manish Raisinghani reference?
Raisinghani referenced Rajkumar Hirani for emotional storytelling, S. S. Rajamouli for epic imagination, Anurag Kashyap for realism, and Aditya Dhar for raw intensity — each as an example of a distinctive worldview that draws audiences.
What television shows is Manish Raisinghani known for?
He is best known for playing Siddhant Bharadwaj in Sasural Simar Ka. He also appeared in Kaahin Kissii Roz and Kahiin to Hoga, and made his debut in Teen Bahuraniyaan.
What vertical storytelling projects has Manish Raisinghani worked on?
Raisinghani has worked on several vertical format projects including Fake Boyfriend Ka Funda, Tapori Bana Papa, Race Ka Badshah, Engineer Number 1, Jail Ka King, and Jallad CEO.
