Aamrapali Dubey, one of Bhojpuri cinema's most recognisable faces and a current contestant on Salman Khan's reality show Bigg Boss 20, has spoken candidly about the ongoing effort to reshape how the Bhojpuri film industry is perceived — arguing that the responsibility cannot rest on any single actor or filmmaker alone. The actress made these remarks during an exclusive interaction on 9 September.

A Collective Responsibility

Dubey was unequivocal that changing the industry's image is not a one-person task. 'All of us have been trying to do this for the last few years,' she said, adding that the push has been sustained and deliberate, not reactive. She framed it as an industry-wide obligation rather than a burden on any individual star.

This comes at a moment when Bhojpuri cinema commands a formidable regional audience — spanning Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and the diaspora — yet continues to face a mixed mainstream reception, often dismissed or stereotyped in national media conversations.

The U/A Certification Shift

Dubey pointed to a concrete indicator of change: the growing number of Bhojpuri films now receiving U/A certification from the Central Board of Film Certification. 'Most of the films being made are now receiving U/A certification, and that is a big development for the Bhojpuri industry,' she said. 'This was not the case earlier, and because of that, there was a stigma attached to the name of the industry.'

The certification shift is significant. A U/A rating — suitable for all audiences with parental guidance for children — signals a move away from content that had previously drawn criticism for being overly adult or crude. Dubey noted that this has made Bhojpuri films more accessible to family audiences, with women in particular now watching and enjoying the content. 'People are watching them at home, and women are enjoying them as well,' she said.

Industry in Transition

Dubey described the Bhojpuri film ecosystem as currently occupying a 'transition phase' — a term she used deliberately to convey that the shift is underway but not yet complete. 'The transition will be completed very soon, and people will watch and enjoy Bhojpuri films on a much larger scale,' she added, expressing optimism about the industry's near-term trajectory.

Notably, this is not the first time a prominent Bhojpuri artist has raised the perception question publicly. The debate has surfaced periodically over the past decade, but critics argue that structural change — in content, distribution, and mainstream platform access — has been slow. Dubey's remarks, made from the high-visibility platform of Bigg Boss 20, are likely to amplify the conversation beyond the regional media ecosystem.

What This Means for Bhojpuri Cinema

The Bhojpuri film industry produces hundreds of films annually and has a dedicated theatrical and digital audience. However, it has historically struggled to cross over into multiplex circuits or attract pan-India OTT deals at scale. A sustained shift toward family-friendly, U/A-certified content could open those doors — but industry observers note that content quality, production values, and marketing investment will all need to keep pace. How quickly the transition Dubey describes translates into broader commercial and critical recognition remains to be seen.