With Hit 3, the latest instalment in the HIT Universe, set to hit theatres on May 1, South Indian star Nani has been in the spotlight—not just for the film, but also for his candid take on a recent statement made by Bollywood heavyweight Salman Khan. During an interview, Nani addressed Salman’s comment suggesting that South Indian audiences do not typically support Bollywood films, and he respectfully disagreed with the notion.
Nani reflected on the history of Bollywood’s reception in the South, pointing out that love for Hindi cinema isn’t a recent development. “Woh (Hindi) original hai, yeh (South) baad mein aaya. Yeh South ko jo pyaar mil raha hai, woh recent hai. Magar jo Bollywood ko pyaar milta hai South mein, woh toh decades se hai. Waha har ek aadmi ko aap punchenge ‘Aapka favourite Hindi film konsi hai’, toh they will have childhood memories of Amitabh Bachchan. They will talk about so many films. So we always watched (Hindi) films – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Dil Toh Pagal Hai, were blockbusters in Hyderabad and other southern states. Everyone is now lapping South, but Hindi cinema always lapped up across the country,” he said, making it clear that the affection for Bollywood in the South has deep roots.
When specifically asked about Salman’s claim that Bollywood films don’t find a strong audience in the South despite fanfare for its stars, Nani responded with a blend of logic and affection. “Nahi-nahi, waha nahi chale? Bina chale kaise superstar ban gaye? 100% chalti hai, and we all love him. We all watched so many films of Salman. Movies like Hum Aapke Hain Koun have cultural importance there. Didi Tera Dewar Deewana and other songs, we used to play at our wedding,” he explained, underlining the cultural resonance Bollywood films have had in the region for decades.
Salman Khan had made his original comment during a promotional event for his film Sikandar, where he noted, “When my film is released there, it will not get the numbers because their fan following is very strong. I’ll walk on the street, and they will say, ‘Bhai, Bhai’, but they will not go to the theatres. The way we’ve accepted them here that hasn’t happened there. Their films do well because we go and see them, like those of Rajinikanth sir or Chiranjeevi garu or Suriya or Ram Charan. But their fans do not go and see our films.”
As the debate around regional and national cinema continues, Nani’s perspective adds valuable nuance, reminding audiences that appreciation for good storytelling has never been restricted by geography. With Hit 3 just around the corner, his voice has not only defended the South’s cinema-viewing culture but also highlighted the mutual admiration that has long existed between the industries.
