Film production in Bollywood has nosedived 50%,leaving many aspiring actors with few options. Actress Huma Qureshi spotlighted this issue at The Hindu Huddle 2026 on Friday, May 5. She voiced concern for newcomers, saying,“Current filmmakers are confused about their prospective audience.”
Qureshi,set to appear in Toxic,shared the stage with actor Kritika Kamra in a session called “New Avatar for the Silver Screen: The Global Reach of OTT.” Journalist Rohit Khilnani moderated the talk, which explored shifting storytelling in Indian cinema.
Looking back at OTT's early days, Qureshi said, “Earlier,great stories were backed by OTT. It was a wonderful period of storytelling.” But now, she feels filmmakers are unsure of their target audience. Kamra agreed, saying,“We are making movies for numbers. Visibility is being prioritized because it makes money. It is a scary situation to be in.”
Kamra’s recent film The Great Shamsuddin Family on JioHotstar earned praise, especially for its take on modern Muslim family facing generational and social tensions . She noted the film took eight years to complete and stressed importance of small and mid-budget films,which she says have mostly vanished. “I am glad to see the love it has gotten from women all over the world,” she said, hoping for more indie projects .
Qureshi also talked about her role in Maharani, which changed perceptions of her as actress . She wants to be part of stories that break cultural barriers, citing Adolescence and Squid Game as inspirations .
The discussion shifted to challenges of entering acting today’s digital age. Kamra rejected idea that becoming an influencer is best path to acting success. She thinks aspiring actors should dive into filmmaking directly, attend auditions, assist directors. “It’s a better approach than building a social media profile and going viral,” she said.
Pay parity also came up. Kamra stressed need for not just equal pay but more screen time,complex roles for female actors. “I wish we reach a situation where we are in position to demand a share of the film’s profit,” she said. Qureshi added the industry often caters to male gaze,reducing women to mere accessories. “This mindset is deep-rooted,” she noted .
The Hindu Huddle, presented by Sami-Sabinsa Group, is co-powered by Government of Telangana,supported by partners like Bank of Baroda and Apollo Hospitals. It's platform for discussing film industry’s pressing issues, spotlighting challenges and dreams of its participants…
