Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and actress Kangana Ranaut has called for Indian cinema to continuously evolve alongside a rapidly changing society, noting that the industry must adapt to shifting audience expectations and market realities.

On Actor Fees and Box Office Losses

When asked whether high fees charged by lead actors contribute to a film's losses, Ranaut drew a practical analogy. She said that when a film underperforms commercially, all costs come under scrutiny — much like a household that cuts back on spending when income falls. 'When a film doesn't do well, the value will be very high. The way you used to spend money — if you don't have that much income, how much will you spend? So having said that, I think films need to evolve. And the way society is evolving, they need to keep evolving themselves,' she said.

Co-Star Smita Tambe on Relevance and Storytelling

Ranaut's co-star in the upcoming film Bharat Bhhagya Vidhaata, actress Smita Tambe, echoed the sentiment, emphasising the importance of relatability in cinema. 'I always feel that every person looks for some relevance. In any story, anywhere. We have relevance. Somewhere we are visible. Somewhere we see larger-than-life visuals,' she said.

Tambe further explained that the deeper the connection between a story and its audience, the stronger the pull toward the theatre. 'I feel that with this exchange of relevance, the stories of cinema and the common audience, the more it evolves, the more it will become an attraction point for them,' she added. She cited Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata as an example, noting that working-class women — nurses, mothers, everyday heroes — would find the story deeply relatable.

About Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata

The film is inspired by real events and centres on ordinary individuals who saved hundreds of lives at Cama Hospital during a major terrorist attack. Ranaut plays a key role in the production, which is scheduled to release in cinemas on 12 June 2026. The story is positioned as a tribute to unsung heroes from civilian life.

Why This Matters for Bollywood

Ranaut's remarks arrive at a moment when the Hindi film industry is grappling with a string of high-budget underperformers and growing competition from regional cinema and streaming platforms. The debate over star fees versus content quality has intensified, with several major productions failing to recover costs despite marquee names. Notably, this is not the first time a prominent industry voice has flagged the need for recalibration — but coming from a sitting MP with a track record of commercially successful films, the observation carries additional weight. Whether Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata itself can demonstrate that content-first filmmaking draws audiences will be closely watched when it opens on 12 June 2026.