Anjana Sukhani on Indian cinema's diversity: 'We don't need to go anywhere else'
Synopsis
Anjana Sukhani's take on Indian cinema's diversity is more than an actor's talking point — it's a career lived across Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi screens. With her latest film Main Vaapas Aaunga out in theatres, she argues that India's multilingual film landscape gives actors everything they need without ever having to look abroad.
Key Takeaways
Anjana Sukhani praised the diversity of Indian cinema in remarks made on 20 July in Mumbai .
She noted that Hindi films target a pan-India audience, while regional industries stay rooted in local culture, language, and tradition.
Sukhani has worked across Bollywood, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi film industries during her career.
Her Bollywood credits include Salaam-e-Ishq (2007) , Golmaal Returns , Jai Veeru , and Jashnn .
Her most recent release is Imtiaz Ali 's Main Vaapas Aaunga , which hit theatres on 12 June 2026 , starring Diljit Dosanjh and Naseeruddin Shah .
Actress Anjana Sukhani has spoken candidly about her journey across multiple Indian film industries, calling the country's cinematic diversity its greatest strength. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on 20 July, she described the experience of working in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi films as a privilege that few professions offer.
Bollywood vs Regional Cinema: What Sets Them Apart
Sukhani drew a clear distinction between Hindi and South Indian filmmaking. 'There are definitely differences,' she said. 'The storytelling style is quite different from Hindi cinema. Hindi films generally cater to a pan-India audience, while regional industries focus on their own cultural and linguistic audiences. Everything changes — from food habits and storytelling to even the acting format.'
She was careful, however, not to frame the differences as a hierarchy. In her view, each regional industry carries its own identity precisely because it stays rooted in local culture, language, and tradition — something a pan-India product cannot always replicate.
Why She Believes India's Film Landscape Is Unique
Sukhani was emphatic that Indian actors have little reason to look beyond the subcontinent for creative variety. 'I think it is wonderful that this diversity is what makes India so beautiful. As actors, we are fortunate to get opportunities to work not only in Hindi but also in Punjabi, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, and many other languages,' she said.
The sentiment reflects a broader shift in the industry's self-perception. The post-pandemic box-office dominance of films such as RRR, KGF, and Pushpa has reinforced the idea that regional storytelling can command national and global audiences without diluting its cultural specificity.
A Career That Spans Languages and Screens
Sukhani's own filmography illustrates the cross-industry mobility she describes. She made her mark in Bollywood with the 2007 multi-starrer Salaam-e-Ishq and the hit comedy sequel Golmaal Returns, also appearing in Jai Veeru and Jashnn.
Her regional foray began with the Kannada film Maleyali Jotheyali, alongside Ganesh and Yuvika Chaudhary. She subsequently starred opposite Ravi Teja in the Telugu film Don Seenu — her second Telugu outing after Naa Oopiri. In 2016, she crossed into Marathi cinema with Laal Ishq, opposite Swapnil Joshi.
Most Recent Work: Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga
Sukhani's latest screen appearance is in director Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga, released in theatres on 12 June 2026. The film features Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina in lead roles, with Sukhani, Banita Sandhu, Rajat Kapoor, Sanjay Suri, and Danish Pandor in supporting parts.
With the film fresh in theatres and her remarks resonating with an industry increasingly proud of its linguistic plurality, Sukhani's perspective adds an actor's lived voice to a conversation that is reshaping how Indian cinema sees itself.
Point of View
Not a curiosity. Her framing of diversity as a gift rather than a complication is diplomatically astute, but it also sidesteps the structural question: whether Hindi cinema's pan-India ambition and regional cinema's cultural specificity can coexist without one cannibalising the other's audience.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Anjana Sukhani say about Indian cinema's diversity?
Anjana Sukhani said India's multilingual film landscape makes the country's cinema uniquely rich, and that actors are fortunate to find opportunities across Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Punjabi, Malayalam, and other language industries without needing to look elsewhere.
How does Anjana Sukhani compare Bollywood with South Indian cinema?
She noted that Hindi films are broadly aimed at a pan-India audience, while South Indian and other regional industries are deeply rooted in their own culture, language, and traditions. She said storytelling styles, food references, and even acting formats differ significantly between the two.
Which regional language films has Anjana Sukhani appeared in?
Sukhani has worked in Telugu films including Naa Oopiri and Don Seenu (opposite Ravi Teja), the Kannada film Maleyali Jotheyali (with Ganesh and Yuvika Chaudhary), and the Marathi film Laal Ishq (2016, opposite Swapnil Joshi).
What is Anjana Sukhani's latest film?
Her most recent release is Main Vaapas Aaunga, directed by Imtiaz Ali, which opened in theatres on 12 June 2026. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina, with Sukhani in a supporting role.
What are Anjana Sukhani's most notable Bollywood films?
Sukhani is best known in Bollywood for the 2007 multi-starrer Salaam-e-Ishq and the comedy sequel Golmaal Returns. She also appeared in Jai Veeru and Jashnn.
