Aamir Khan Defends Hindi Cinema’s Quality Amidst Challenges

“We’re Not Falling Behind”: Aamir Khan on the State of Hindi Cinema

Veteran actor-producer Aamir Khan is confident in the current state of the Hindi film industry. He rejected the notion that Bollywood lags behind its regional counterparts in terms of quality. Speaking in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Khan acknowledged the industry is facing a challenging period. He emphasized that this is part of a natural cycle.

Quality Across Industries: Not a Wide Gap, Says Khan

Aamir agreed that Indian filmmakers, including those in Bollywood, must continually strive to evolve and grow. He dismissed the idea that the Hindi film industry is producing films of inferior quality. “There is always room to grow and learn from each other, including from regional cinema,” he said. “But do I think Hindi films are significantly weaker in quality than Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, or Marathi films? I don’t believe so.”

Reflecting on Past Eras and Changing Trends

Aamir pointed to the 1970s and 80s as a low point in Indian cinematic history. He noted how far Bollywood has come since. “When I entered the industry in 1988, mainstream cinema was quite formulaic. But since then, we’ve expanded what’s considered ‘mainstream.’ Audiences now embrace a wider variety of stories and styles,” he said. “Yes, we’re in a low phase right now, but such cycles have always existed.”

Public Reactions: Divided Opinions Online

A snippet of the interview circulating on X (formerly Twitter) has sparked mixed responses. Some social media users questioned Khan’s optimism, suggesting Bollywood relies too heavily on remakes and lacks originality. One user remarked, “Bollywood needs to stop recycling content—it used to be capable of creating classics.”

Others echoed Aamir’s sentiments, highlighting how much good content in Hindi often goes unnoticed. “Hindi web series like Panchayat and Gullak prove there’s strong storytelling in the industry—it’s just not always mainstream,” wrote another.

One user pointed out that the shift of quality audiences from cinemas to OTT platforms has impacted box office success. “Earlier, multiplex viewers backed thoughtful films. Now, they’ve moved to streaming. That’s a huge shift.”

On the Work Front

Aamir Khan was last seen in Laal Singh Chaddha (2022), a project he also produced. He is currently working on two new films—Sitaare Zameen Par and Lahore 1947. He is also expected to make a cameo appearance in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s upcoming film Coolie.