Veteran actor Zarina Wahab has made a candid revelation about her current cinematic preferences, stating she now favours working in Telugu and other South Indian film industries over Bollywood. The actor, with a career spanning over five decades, attributes this shift to a fundamental difference in storytelling, claiming the concept of family-centric narratives has faded in Hindi cinema while thriving in the South.
A Career Spanning Industries and Languages
Born in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Zarina Wahab is a Telugu native by birth. However, her cinematic journey began in Bollywood. After honing her craft at the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, she moved to Mumbai and made her debut in Dev Anand's Ishk Ishk Ishk in 1974. Since that pivotal moment, she has showcased her versatility by working across multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada, alongside Hindi.
Despite her enduring presence in Bollywood—her most recent Hindi appearance being in Gopichand Malineni's Jaat (2025) starring Sunny Deol—Wahab feels a stronger pull towards Southern projects today.
The Heart of the Matter: Family Films Fade in Bollywood
During a recent event, Wahab addressed the frequent question of why she is taking on more roles in Telugu cinema compared to Hindi. Her answer was pointed and poignant. "Hindi films main family mar gayi hai. There's no family. Sirf South main family abhi bhi zinda hai," she stated. This translates to her belief that the concept of family has died in Hindi cinema and is only alive in the South.
She elaborated that South Indian directors continue to produce the kind of family-oriented films that audiences love to watch, a genre she finds lacking in contemporary Bollywood offerings. This creative environment aligns more with her preferences, leading her to actively pursue roles in Telugu cinema. "I am currently working on 2-3 more Telugu movies," she confirmed.
Gearing Up for 'The Raja Saab' and Expressing Gratitude
Zarina Wahab is currently promoting her upcoming Telugu film, The Raja Saab, directed by Maruthi and led by superstar Prabhas. She expressed excitement about the project, noting that it is bringing her significant recognition. "I am from Andhra, so I can speak good Telugu, much better than anybody else. Everybody kept asking me why I wasn't working in Telugu films. I've worked in a few, but this film (The Raja Saab) is bringing me more fame," she shared.
The actor was careful to acknowledge her roots in both industries. "I am very thankful to the Telugu industry now, and I was very, very thankful to the Hindi industry also," she said, reflecting on her long and diverse career. The Raja Saab, a horror-comedy, boasts an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, and Riddhi Kumar. With music by Thaman S and cinematography by Karthik Palani, the film is set for a grand release on January 9, coinciding with the Sankranti festival.
Wahab's comments highlight a significant cultural and narrative shift perceived by artists within the Indian film landscape, where regional cinema is increasingly being celebrated for preserving traditional storytelling genres that once dominated the national scene.
