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

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Huma Qureshi and Kritika Kamra in conversation with Rohit Khilnani, at The Hindu Huddle 2026 on May 5, 2026. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

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).

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.

Ms. 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.

Ms. 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.

Ms. 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 a