# Siddharth refuses item songs, villain roles that glorify bad behaviour

2026-08-19T14:34:32+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Actor Siddharth has stated he will not perform item songs that objectify women or play a villain whose actions are portrayed as heroic. In a recent interview, he said he has never taken part in item numbers where "one woman is surrounded by forty men" and explained that he would only play a negative character if that character is killed off at the end, ensuring the audience does not leave the theatre wanting to emulate him. Bollywood Hungama reports that Siddharth also spoke about his approach to heroism, saying, "I don't always have to play a hero. I will not play a bad person and make you think he's a hero." The actor is currently being praised for his role as Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja in the Netflix series Operation Safed Sagar, about the Indian Air Force. M9.news describes Siddharth's stance as an "interesting stand in an industry where item numbers are often used to create additional buzz" and notes that he has maintained his own line on certain aspects of mainstream filmmaking despite working across Telugu, Tamil and Hindi cinema.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Bollywood Hungama leads with Siddharth's full ethical code, including his refusal to glamorise villains, and adds the positive reaction from a family member. M9.news frames the story purely around the item-song refusal, calling it an "interesting stand" against industry norms. The outlets agree on the core quotes, but M9.news exaggerates the rarity of his position without naming any counter-examples, while Bollywood Hungama gives a more rounded, factual report. The measured read: Siddharth has drawn a clear personal line on objectification and on-screen morality, a choice that is unusual in mainstream Indian cinema but not unique. Watch for whether future commercial projects test his stated limits.

## Coverage

Coverage: 2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
- bollywoodhungama.com (neutral report) <https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/siddharth-opens-up-on-his-acting-ethics-says-i-dont-always-have-to-play-a-hero/>
  Leads with Siddharth's full quotes and family praise, no editorialising
- m9.news (sensationalist) <https://www.m9.news/movienews/siddharth-stays-away-from-item-songs/>
  Frames item-song refusal as rare and against industry trend, drama-first

This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources. Last updated 2026-08-21T23:20:49+00:00.

Tags: Ajay Ahuja, Indian Air Force, Netflix, Operation Safed Sagar, Siddharth
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