Zarina Wahab on Working in Telugu Films: ‘Family Films Died in Hindi, Only Alive in South’

Veteran actor Zarina Wahab opened up about her choice to work in Telugu films while promoting her upcoming movie, The Raja Saab, starring Prabhas. Speaking in Mumbai, she highlighted the decline of family-oriented films in Bollywood and praised the South Indian film industry for keeping the genre alive.

Zarina, who hails from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, said she has been in the film industry for over 40 years and is fluent in Telugu. “Everybody kept asking me why I wasn’t working in Telugu films. I’ve done a few, but this film is bringing me more fame,” she shared.

She added that people in Mumbai often question her about doing Telugu films. “People in Bombay ask me, why are you doing Telugu films? Hindi films main family mar gayi hai. Sirf South mai family abhi bhi zinda hai. They produce such family-oriented films that people love to watch. I am currently working on 2-3 more Telugu movies,” she explained.

Despite her shift to South Indian cinema, Zarina expressed gratitude toward Bollywood for shaping her career. “I am very thankful to the Telugu industry now, and I was very, very thankful to the Hindi industry also,” she said.