Bollywood has faced a challenging period lately, with several films failing at the box office despite critical acclaim. In 2024, six out of the top ten highest-grossing Indian films were from the South, with Pushpa 2 and Kalki 2898 AD leading the charge. When asked by Siddharth Kannan whether dubbed South films are ‘saving Bollywood,’ Nani, while promoting HIT 3, had an optimistic take on the situation.
Nani acknowledged that every film industry goes through ups and downs. He pointed out that Tollywood faced a similar slump the previous summer before making a strong comeback. “I don’t think ‘saving’ is the right word. Balancing is more accurate. Telugu cinema too faced a dry spell, with theatres shut down. But we always come back stronger, and the same will happen with Hindi cinema,” he said.
He emphasized that audiences now simply want great films, regardless of language, which benefits talented filmmakers. “The great thing is that people just want a good film, whether it’s Hindi or Telugu. This pushes us to do our best,” Nani said. He also acknowledged Bollywood’s rich legacy, expressing confidence that the industry would rebound. “Sometimes you need these dry periods to recharge and return with renewed energy,” he added.
Nani, who was last seen in Saripodhaa Sanivaaram, is gearing up for the release of HIT 3 on May 1 and is also working on The Paradise with Dasara director Srikanth Odela.
Read Also: