Between visibility and storytelling: Huma Qureshi and Kritika Kamra on Bollywood’s future

Film production in Bollywood has gone down by 50%, and current filmmakers are confused about their prospective audience, according to actor Huma Qureshi. “It’s not an alarming sign, but I feel for upcoming actors who struggle for opportunities,” said Ms. Qureshi, who was speaking at The Hindu Huddle 2026 on Friday (May 5, 2026). Also Read: The Hindu Huddle 2026 Day 1 Highlights She shared her observations on current trends in Bollywood, along with fellow actor Kritika Kamra, during a session titled ‘New Avatar for the Silver Screen: The Global Reach of OTT’, which was moderated by journalist and talk show host Rohit Khilnani. “Earlier, great stories were backed by OTT. It was a wonderful period of storytelling. Today, we are confused about whom we are catering our films to,” said Ms. Qureshi said, who is set to star in the highly anticipated film Toxic. Kamra echoed her thoughts. “Some incredible work was being done at the beginning of the OTT era. We took some big leaps in the OTT space. Now, we are making movies for numbers. Visibility is being prioritised because it makes money. It is a scary situation to be in,” she expressed. Stories that break cultural barriers Kamra was praised for her performance in The Great Shamsuddin Family, a JioHotstar film revolving around a modern Muslim family grappling with generational gaps and social tensions. “It took eight years for the film to see the light of day. It’s a small film, but I am glad to see the love it has gotten from women all over the world. The reception to the movie has given me the confidence to do an indie movie. We must have more small, mid-budget movies. They have disappeared,” she said. Qureshi said her hit series Maharani changed how people in the industry look at her as a performer. She is keen on featuring in stories that “break cultural barriers”, she said. “I would love to be part of something on the lines of Adolescence and Squid Game,” she added. Influencers: aspiring actors? Is becoming an influencer the new way to break into acting? Ms. Kamra does not think so. She opined that youngsters must be a part of the filmmaking process to grow as performers. “They must attend auditions and try to assist directors. It’s a better approach than building a social media profile and going viral,” she said. The actors also offered their perspectives on the hot topic of pay parity. “Apart from equal pay, we must also talk about female actors getting more screentime and unique characters. As for pay, I wish we reach a situation where we are in a position to demand a share of the film’s profit,“ Ms. Kamra said. Ms. Qureshi added: “Films are made for the male gaze. Women are just accessories. This mindset is deep-rooted.” The Hindu Huddle is presented by the Sami-Sabinsa Group as the Presenting Partner. The event is co-powered by the Government of Telangana and held in association with Khaja Bandanawaz University. The event is further supported by Bank of Baroda, Larsen & Toubro, Apollo Hospitals, IIM Sirmaur, ICFAI Group, TAFE, Wizzmon, Uttarakhand Government, Associate Partners; Casagrand, Realty Partner; Toyota, Luxury Car Partner; Amity University Bengaluru, University Partner; Harrow International School Bengaluru, Education Partner; Meghalaya Tourism, State Partner; and NDTV 24x7, TV Partner.