Actor Kalki Koechlin has spoken about the ongoing struggles in the Hindi film industry, calling the current phase a full-blown “Bollywood recession.”

Speaking on the Aleena Dissects podcast, Koechlin shed light on what she describes as a creative and structural freeze within the industry, with projects stalled and professionals uncertain about the future.

“There’s a Bollywood recession; that’s why they’re re-releasing everything. There’s no content. It’s not working. So, everything has been stalled. Even they know, but they’re scared. They don’t know what’s working, what isn’t. So, everything is stalled, everything is stuck,” she said.

Koechlin described Bollywood as a troubled film industry that seems lost and unsure. She said audience habits are changing fast, with short videos becoming more popular than full movies. Because of this, even big-budget films are finding it hard to get released, and many smaller actors and crew members haven’t had steady work for years.

“Creative teams are being fired, and re-hired. They just don’t know why it’s not working. And people don’t realise there’s this crisis going on. And from top to bottom, I’ve spoken to people. On top, people are spending crores of money and not finding platforms to release them. And there are the chhotu (small) actors who haven’t had work in two years,” she added.

Koechlin’s views are similar to what her ex-husband, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, has also said recently. He shared that he’s disappointed with the lack of fresh and creative ideas in Bollywood. That’s why he has now turned his focus towards South Indian cinema, where he feels more new and exciting work is being done.

Kalki Koechlin was last seen in the 2023 film ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’, directed by Arjun Varain Singh.