Veteran actor Zarina Wahab has made a striking observation about the shifting landscape of Indian cinema. While promoting her upcoming Telugu film The Raja Saab, she stated that the essence of family-oriented storytelling has largely disappeared from Bollywood but continues to flourish in the South Indian film industry.
"Hindi Films Main Family Mar Gayi Hai": A Candid Critique
Interacting with the press on Monday, Zarina Wahab addressed questions about her increasing work in Telugu cinema. She revealed that people in Mumbai often question her career choices. "People in Bombay ask me, why are you doing Telugu films?" she shared. Her response was blunt: "Hindi films main family mar gayi hai. There's no family. Sirf South mai family abhi bhi zinda hai."
Elaborating further, the actor praised South Indian filmmakers for consistently producing movies rooted in strong family values, which resonate deeply with audiences. "They make such family-oriented films that people love to watch," she affirmed. Wahab confirmed her continued collaboration with the industry, mentioning she is currently working on two to three more Telugu movies.
Embracing Telugu Roots and a New Chapter
Zarina Wahab also shed light on her personal connection to the Telugu film world, a fact she says many are unaware of. "I am from Andhra, so I can speak good Telugu, much better than anybody else," she stated, referring to her birthplace, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
With a career spanning over four decades, she expressed slight bemusement at not being asked to do more Telugu films earlier. "Everybody kept asking me why I wasn't working in Telugu films. I've worked in a few, but this film is bringing me more fame," she noted. Her return to Telugu cinema was marked by the 2020 film Virata Paravam starring Rana Daggubati and Sai Pallavi, followed by a key role in the 2024 blockbuster Devara: Part 1 featuring Jr NTR.
Gratitude for Bollywood and Looking Ahead
Despite her critique, Zarina Wahab was quick to express her profound gratitude to the Hindi film industry for shaping her long career. "I am very thankful to the Telugu industry now, and I was very, very thankful to the Hindi industry also," she said, acknowledging the platform Bollywood provided her.
The actor's next major release is the much-anticipated Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab, which boasts a stellar ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, and Riddhi Kumar. The film is slated for a Sankranthi release on January 9.
Wahab's comments highlight a significant cultural and narrative divergence between the two major cinematic hubs of India, sparking a conversation about evolving audience preferences and the core themes that define mainstream cinema today.
