Bollywood Actors Criticized for Lack of Hindi Proficiency

As of November 18th, 2025, a heated debate has been ongoing in the Hindi film industry regarding the widespread use of English on film sets and the lack of proficiency in Hindi among many actors. In recent years, industry insiders like technicians and actors, including Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Anurag Kashyap, have voiced concerns that Bollywood's growing dependence on English has distanced both the films and their stars from a large section of the Hindi-speaking audience.

Joining the discussion, actress Huma Qureshi recently pointed out that even though the Hindi film industry caters primarily to a Hindi-speaking audience, much of the communication on sets and even the scripts are in English. Qureshi questioned the logic behind this, stating that if the films are meant for a Hindi-speaking audience, the actors should at least be able to speak the language fluently. She noted that this lack of language proficiency has resulted in many actors being unable to communicate effectively in either English or Hindi.

The issue of language has been a topic of concern for several industry insiders. While some actors, like Qureshi, have acknowledged that language adaptability can be a strength, the overall consensus is that the overuse of English, both in conversation and in scripts, often overshadows Hindi, which remains the primary language for the industry's target audience.