Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Actor Richa Chadha doesn’t believe 2026 can yet be called a landmark year for content-driven cinema. Despite the success of films like Hanuman Ansh, the actor-producer begs to differ and feels it is too early to declare that content has taken the lead.
In an exclusive interview with Zoom, Richa was asked whether the growing success of smaller, content-driven films this year signals a shift in the industry. She disagreed, pointing out that the success of a few films does not necessarily indicate a larger trend.
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“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? Obsession is Hollywood, so we cannot compare our films to theirs. Mythological stuff relatively does well. Be it religious or mythological, it is safe for everyone to see. Yeh toh log dekhte hi hain (People do watch it. It is early to say ki kuch accha ho raha hai,” Richa said.
Her comments come at a time when Hanuman Ansh has emerged as one of the year’s biggest theatrical success stories. Reportedly made on a budget of around Rs 2 crore, the film found a much wider audience than expected and went on to earn over Rs 423 crore worldwide. It continues to run in theatres even after completing two months.
For the Fukrey actor, however, the film’s success alone isn’t enough to suggest that the industry has entered a new era for content-led cinema. She believes the real change will come when better writing receives greater financial backing, particularly when it comes to writers.
“I feel better scripts and money for writers could lead us to the phase where content-driven cinema takes the lead,” she said.
The 39-year-old actor has consistently backed stories that prioritise substance over scale. As an actor, she has been associated with content-driven projects, while through her production house, Pushing Buttons Studios, she continues to support stories that she believes deserve to be told.
Meanwhile, her latest project, Musafiri, a YouTube series exploring the stories of people from Mumbai, is another extension of that approach. Yet, despite the encouraging response to films such as Hanuman Ansh, Richa believes the industry needs more consistent successes before content-driven cinema can truly be said to be leading the way.
. Hosted, written and produced by Richa, the eight-episode series Musafiri explores stories from Mumbai and is available to watch on Phull Stop, the new YouTube channel launched by Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
