Zarina Wahab On Why She Does Telugu Movies: 'Hindi Films Main Family Mar Gayi, Sirf South Main Hai'

Zarina Wahab’s Bollywood career is marked by a steady presence that has spanned several decades. She began her acting journey in the late 1970s, quickly gaining attention for her natural screen presence and ability to portray emotionally grounded characters. And now, she is all set to feature in the Telugu film, The Raja Saab. Speaking at a promotional event, she revealed that many questioned her decision to star in Telugu films.

“I have been working in the industry for more than 40 years now. I am from Andhra, so I can speak good Telugu, much better than anybody else. Everybody kept asking me why I wasn’t working in Telugu films. I’ve worked in a few, but this film is bringing me more fame,” Zarina Wahab said.

She added, “People in Bombay ask

me, ‘Why are you doing Telugu films?’ Hindi films main family mar gayi hai. There’s no family. Sirf South mai family abhi bhi zinda hai (The concept of family has died in Hindi; it’s only alive in the South). They produce such family-oriented films that people love to watch. I am currently working on 2-3 more Telugu movies.”

“I am very thankful to the Telugu industry now, and I was very, very thankful to the Hindi industry also,” she added. She rose to prominence with films such as Chitchor (1976), Gharonda (1977), and Agar (1977), where her performances were appreciated for their simplicity and sincerity. These films established her as a dependable actress capable of bringing warmth and relatability to complex emotional narratives.

About The Raja Saab

Prabhas is all set to charm audiences with his upcoming romantic fantasy The Raja Saab, slated for a spectacular global release on January 9. The film pairs the pan-India superstar opposite Nidhhi Agerwal, and fans are eagerly looking forward to seeing the fresh on-screen duo bring their chemistry to life.

Directed by Maruthi, The Raja Saab also stars Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar and Zarina Wahab in key roles. The film boasts music by Thaman S, cinematography by Karthik Palani, editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao, and production design by Rajeevan.