Bollywood

Richa Chadha says 2026 is not yet a landmark year for content cinema

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Actor-producer Richa Chadha has pushed back against the idea that 2026 marks a turning point for content-driven Hindi cinema. In an interview with Zoom, published by India Today on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, Richa Chadha said the success of a few films, including the surprise hit Hanuman Ansh, is not enough to call this a landmark year.

Richa Chadha: ‘What else has worked this year?’

Asked whether the growing success of smaller films signals a shift in the industry, Chadha disagreed. “No, 2026 is not a landmark year for content. If it is with context to Hanuman Ansh, that’s a separate thing. What else has worked this year?” she said.

She added that the Hollywood title Obsession should not be counted in that comparison, and that mythological and religious stories tend to do well because they are seen as safe viewing for everyone. In her view, it is too early to say that the industry has really changed course.

The Hanuman Ansh effect

Her comments come as Hanuman Ansh stands out as one of the year’s biggest theatrical success stories. The film was reportedly made on a budget of around ₹2 crore and has earned more than ₹423 crore worldwide, according to India Today. It is still running in theatres more than two months after release.

For Chadha, a single breakout hit does not prove that audiences have moved away from scale and spectacle. She said the industry needs more consistent successes before content-led cinema can claim to be leading the way.

Writers need the money

The actor said the real change will come when good writing gets proper financial backing. “I feel better scripts and money for writers could lead us to the phase where content-driven cinema takes the lead,” she said.

Chadha, 39, has long been linked with smaller, story-first projects. Through her production house, Pushing Buttons Studios, she backs stories she believes deserve to be told.

Her latest project is Musafiri, an eight-episode YouTube series that she hosts, writes and produces. It explores the stories of people in Mumbai and streams on Phull Stop, the YouTube channel launched by Chadha and her husband, actor Ali Fazal.

Source: India Today

Photo: Bollywood Hungama / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (resized)

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