Riteish Deshmukh Highlights Challenges Facing Marathi Cinema Amid Hindi Film Dominance

Actor Riteish Deshmukh highlighted concerns over Marathi cinema's declining presence in Maharashtra, attributing it to the dominance of Hindi films in local theatres. Speaking at a Samajwadi Party event, he noted that despite Maharashtra's large Marathi-speaking population and its historical role as the birthplace of Indian cinema by Marathi pioneer Dadasaheb Phalke, Marathi films often remain a secondary choice. Deshmukh emphasized economic challenges and audience preferences as factors limiting Marathi cinema's growth compared to regional industries in other states.