Preity Zinta: Bollywood’s Focus Has Shifted

Actress Preity Zinta has opened up about the changes she has witnessed in Bollywood throughout her journey in the film industry.

Looking back at her career, which began in the late 1990s, the actress reflected on how filmmaking, technology and storytelling have evolved over the years. Speaking exclusively to media, Preity recalled being part of a period when the industry was undergoing several significant changes. From the introduction of live sound to the transition from film cameras to digital technology, she said filmmaking has come a long way.

The ‘Veer Zara’ actress stated, “By 28 years, I say, I was very lucky that I actually came right at the end of the ’90s, really. Films were changing then because I did a film called Kya Kehna, and it was a very different film. Not so different, as they had made films like that before, but for me, as a newcomer, to debut in a film like that was very different.”

“Then, in 2000, Dil Chahta Hai came, and it was a film that used live sound, so dubbing stopped. I think I was part of that change when it was happening in the industry. From there to now, I don’t see any big difference in terms of how films are approached, except that digital cameras have come in, and you’re not shooting on film anymore.”

The ‘Soldier’ actress also highlighted a shift in the themes explored by Hindi cinema. Preity said Bollywood’s focus has gradually shifted from the NRI-centric romances that were popular during an earlier era to stories that are more rooted in India. She noted that filmmakers are now exploring themes such as national pride and history.

Preity said, “So, the one thing that I see that’s different about films is that there’s a lot more pride in being Indian. Earlier, we did a lot of NRI romances, but now the focus has shifted to India — you know, our pride, historical movies, movies on the army. Comedies are different in terms of the vibe — the vibe is vibing, as you say. So, there are some differences, but not that many.”

Speaking about the changes, she further mentioned that the pressure of delivering remains the same. “So, the pressure — I mean, the pressure is still the same of delivering what you’re doing. Earlier, we had film cameras, except now the cameras have turned digital, and there are a lot of things where people go, ‘Don’t worry, we’ll fix it in post.’ We didn’t have that option of fixing things in post or with live sound. Things have become different.”

“You have to get it right because earlier, you could dub it and fix it in dubbing. Now, you have to get it right because very few people dub. You only dub sequences where there’s noise or something; otherwise, you don’t really dub.”

Preity Zinta made her acting debut with Mani Ratnam’s 1998 Hindi film “Dil Se.” After establishing herself in Bollywood with a string of successful films, the actress took a long break from acting to focus on her personal life, marriage and family.

After an eight-year hiatus, Preity returned to the silver screen with the period drama “Batwara 1947.” Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and backed by Aamir Khan Productions, the film, starring Sunny Deol, hit theatres on August 14, 2026.