India, Jan. 11 -- Fashion designer turned producer Manish Malhotra, who has worked with actors across three generations, believes adaptability and collaboration are key to longevity. Having styled leading stars and their children, he says creative hierarchies no longer work in today's filmmaking environment. "I've worked with actors such as Chunky Panday and now Ananya Panday, from Sridevi to Janhvi Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan to Suhana Khan. That journey is only possible when you don't approach work by saying you know better because you've worked with the previous generation," says Malhotra, adding that experience should enable dialogue, not authority. Dismissing assumptions about Gen Z actors and star kids, he says, "The minute you stop being collaborative, the process breaks down. Today's generation responds to conversations, not instructions," noting that professionalism on set has rarely been an issue. "They are extremely invested in their work and very open to learning. What I see in them is a strong sense of self and a real desire to be part of the creative process, not just the end result," he continues. Calling himself a bridge between eras, Malhotra adds, "None of us know better. Every day is a new day, and if you want to move ahead with time, you have to listen and evolve," a shift he believes has made the industry more open, collaborative, and creatively alive....