Padma Shri Prosenjit Chatterjee: Indian cinema will rival Hollywood soon
Synopsis
With a 40-year, 400-film career behind him and a Padma Shri just conferred, Prosenjit Chatterjee made a pointed argument at Rashtrapati Bhavan: Indian cinema's multi-language talent pool, backed by government schemes, is poised to stand alongside Hollywood — and the moment belongs to the next generation.
Key Takeaways
Prosenjit Chatterjee received the Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 25 May .
The honour recognises his contribution to Art across a career of more than 40 years and over 400 films .
Chatterjee predicted Indian cinema will soon match Hollywood on the international platform, citing government schemes supporting directors and cross-language talent.
He rejected the term 'regional cinema', arguing that Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, and Punjabi films represent unified Indian talent .
India produces more films than any other country in the world, according to Chatterjee.
Bengali cinema icon Prosenjit Chatterjee received the Padma Shri — India's fourth-highest civilian honour — from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on 25 May, recognising his decades-long contribution to the field of Art. The veteran actor, who has appeared in more than 400 films across a career spanning over 40 years, used the occasion to express confidence that Indian cinema is on course to match Hollywood's global standing.
Prosenjit on the Honour
Speaking after receiving the award, Chatterjee said, 'I am very happy to get the Padma Shri. I have been working for more than 40 years. I have worked in more than 400 films. I am very thankful to my audience. I am very thankful to the people of my country. And of course, finally, the Indian government for giving me this most respectful award.'
The actor was seen dressed in an elegant kurta as he walked up to receive the honour at the ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Cinema as a Family Legacy
Chatterjee comes from a celebrated film family — his father, Biswajit, was also a noted actor. Reflecting on a lifetime devoted to entertainment, he said, 'Cinema is something that remains. My father was also an actor, Mr. Biswajit. We have given our lives to entertain people. And we couldn't do anything else. But the most important thing is that we are entertaining people.'
The Case for Indian Cinema Going Global
Chatterjee was emphatic that the conditions for Indian cinema's global breakthrough are more favourable than ever, pointing to government support and the diversity of talent across languages. 'The way cinema is evolving, our government is also bringing a lot of schemes. They are also helping individual directors. So, I think that our Indian cinema will soon reach the same place on the international platform as we say in Hollywood films,' he said.
Notably, the actor was careful to reframe the conversation around language cinema. 'There will be a time when our Indian cinema is not just Hindi. There are many good films being made in many languages... I don't call it regional cinema — there are so many languages in India. There are Marathi, Bengali, Malayali, Punjabi. There are so many talents,' he said. He added that India produces more films than any other country in the world.
Cross-Language Talent as India's Strength
Chatterjee argued that the movement of talent across linguistic boundaries — a Punjabi actor working in Hindi, a Tamil actor crossing over — would amplify India's creative output on the world stage. 'This strength of creativity will increase,' he said, crediting government initiatives for helping channel this multi-lingual talent pool onto unified platforms.
With the global success of Indian films in recent years, Chatterjee's optimism reflects a broader shift in how the industry sees itself — not as a collection of regional industries, but as a single, formidable creative force.
Point of View
And the global traction of non-Hindi Indian films over the past three years gives his optimism empirical backing. But the Hollywood comparison papers over a persistent gap: distribution muscle, IP monetisation, and global marketing infrastructure, none of which government scheme-making has yet addressed. The more consequential point he made — that 'regional' is a misnomer for what is actually a multi-lingual national cinema — is the framing the industry itself needs to internalise before the world does.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What award did Prosenjit Chatterjee receive?
Prosenjit Chatterjee received the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour, presented by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The award recognised his contribution to Art through a career spanning more than 40 years and over 400 films.
Why does Prosenjit Chatterjee believe Indian cinema will rival Hollywood?
Chatterjee cited the diversity of talent across Indian languages, the sheer volume of films India produces, and government schemes supporting individual directors as the key drivers. He argued that cross-language collaboration among Indian actors will further amplify the country's creative strength on the global stage.
Where were the Padma Awards 2025 ceremony held?
The Padma Awards ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
What is Prosenjit Chatterjee's view on 'regional cinema'?
Chatterjee explicitly rejected the label 'regional cinema', arguing that films in Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam, Punjabi, and other Indian languages represent a unified pool of Indian talent rather than separate regional industries.
Who is Prosenjit Chatterjee's father?
Prosenjit Chatterjee's father is Biswajit, also a well-known actor in Indian cinema. Chatterjee cited their shared legacy as evidence of a family — and an industry — devoted entirely to entertaining audiences.
