Between visibility and narrative: Huma Qureshi and Kritika Kamra on the future of Bollywood

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 fallen by 50% and today’s filmmakers are confused about their potential audience, according to actor Huma Qureshi. “It’s not an alarming sign, but I feel for the upcoming actors who are struggling for opportunities,” said Ms Qureshi, who was speaking at The Hindu Huddle 2026 on Friday (May 5, 2026).

Also Read: Highlights of First Day of Hindu Huddle 2026

She shared her insights on current trends in Bollywood along with co-star Kritika Kamra during a session titled ‘A New Avatar for the Silver Screen: OTT’s Global Reach’ hosted by journalist and talk show host Rohit Khilnani.

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Day 1 of The Hindu Huddle in Bengaluru, inaugurated by Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar (R). Dr. can be seen at the event. Narayan Lakshman, editor of The Hindu’s Opinion and curator of The Huddle (L).

Hindu Huddle 2026 opens in Bengaluru on June 5, 2026.

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The sixth edition of The Hindu Group’s Thought Conclave was held in Bengaluru on 5th and 6th June.

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Xu Feihong, Chinese Ambassador to India, in a session with Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Hindu, spoke about how India-China ties are one of the most important relationships in the world.

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In his speech, Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar said that Bengaluru has the largest talent pool in Asia.

Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh and Dr. Krithi Karanth, Director General, Center for Wildlife Studies, addressed the session moderated by Gargi Rawat, Consulting Editor, NDTV.

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Actors Huma Qureshi and Kritika Kamra in conversation with Rohit Khilnani, journalist and talk show host.

A mentalist named Naman Anand spoke at the conclave.

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“Earlier, great stories were supported by OTT. It was a wonderful period of storytelling. Today we are confused about who we are pitching our films to,” said Ms Qureshi, who is set to star in the much-anticipated film Toxic.

Mrs. Kamra repeated her thoughts. “There was incredible work done at the beginning of the OTT era. We’ve made some big leaps in the OTT space. Now we’re making movies for numbers. Viewability is prioritized because it makes money. It’s a scary situation,” she said.

Stories that break cultural barriers

Ms. Kamra was recognized for her performance in The Great Shamsuddin Family, a JioHotstar film that revolves around a modern Muslim family dealing with generational differences and social tensions. “It took eight years for the film to see the light of day. It’s a small film but I’m happy to see the love it got from women all over the world. The acceptance of the film gave me the confidence to make an independent film. We need to have more small, mid-budget films. They’ve disappeared,” she said.

Ms. Qureshi said her hit series Maharani has changed the way people in the industry view her as an artist. She likes to appear in stories that “break cultural barriers,” she said. “I would love to be a part of something along the lines of Adolescence and Squid Game,” she added.

Influencers: aspiring actors?

Is becoming an influencer the new way to break into acting? Mrs. Kamra doesn’t think so. She believed that the youth must be part of the film process to grow as artists. “They have to audition and try to help the directors. It’s a better approach than building a social media profile and going viral,” she said.

The actors also offered their views on the hot topic of pay parity. “Besides equal pay, we also need to talk about actresses getting more screen space and unique characters. In terms of pay, I wish we could get to a position where we can demand a share of the film’s profits,” Kamra said. Ms Qureshi added: “Films are made for the male gaze. Women are just accessories. This mindset is deeply ingrained.”

Hindu Huddle is presented by Sami-Sabinsa Group as a presenting partner. The event is co-sponsored by the Government of Telangana and is being 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, real estate partner; Toyota, the luxury car partner; Amity University Bengaluru, Partner University; Harrow International School Bengaluru, Education Partner; Meghalaya Tourism, State Partner; and NDTV 24×7, TV Partner.

Published – 05 Jun 2026 21:46 IST