Seema Pahwa Considers Leaving Bollywood, Criticizes Industry’s Shift Towards Money Over Creativity

Veteran actress Seema Pahwa expresses disillusionment with Bollywood’s increasing commercialisation, lamenting the sidelining of true artistry in favor of profit-driven filmmaking.

April 29, 2025: Seema Pahwa Considers Leaving Bollywood, Criticizes Industry’s Shift Towards Business Over Creativity

Veteran actress Seema Pahwa, who has been a stalwart of Hindi cinema for nearly five decades, has voiced her disappointment with the current state of the film industry. In a candid interview with Bollywood Thikana, Pahwa said she is seriously considering quitting films, citing Bollywood’s increasing commercialisation and the diminishing respect for creative talent.

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“I think I will have to say goodbye to the film industry very soon. The condition is very bad. They have murdered creativity. Now, businessmen run the industry, thinking only of profits,” she said.

Seema lamented that the Hindi film industry has completely sidelined artistic values, prioritizing box office earnings over meaningful storytelling. “They call us purane log (old-fashioned people) and tell us our thought process is outdated. According to them, only casting big stars and commercial elements can make a film successful,” she added.

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Highlighting the repetitive trend of making formulaic Rs 100 crore films, Seema criticized filmmakers for clinging to outdated strategies despite changing audience preferences. She also noted that even the OTT space, once seen as a beacon of fresh storytelling, is now falling prey to commercial pressures.

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“If you invest in good low-budget films, at least two out of five will succeed. But the industry only wants to stick to the same formula that audiences are now rejecting,” she said.

Disillusioned with the current scenario, Seema has turned her focus to theatre, where she feels her creativity is respected. “I’m happy doing the kind of work I love in theatre. I don’t think films will give us the respect or opportunities we deserve anymore,” she admitted.

Reflecting on her long journey, she said, “I have given 55 years to the industry, but today, even someone with just five years of experience is considered more valuable. That hurts. But rather than stay hurt, I have chosen to move on.”

Seema also voiced concern that young, talented artists are being overlooked because the industry remains obsessed with numbers and star power rather than genuine talent and fresh ideas.

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