R. Madhavan Warns Indian Cinema is Losing Gen Z to Anime
The actor says younger Indians are choosing Japanese anime and Korean content over domestic films, raising concerns for the industry.
BYKamalikaa
21 JUL 2026, 09:39 AM
Highlights
- R. Madhavan has expressed concern that Gen Z audiences are increasingly choosing anime and Korean content over Indian films.
- Industry data and surveys support the trend, with anime gaining traction through streaming platforms and smartphone viewing.
- Madhavan argues that the solution lies not in blaming viewers but in creating more compelling stories for Indian cinema.
Indian actor R. Madhavan has raised concerns over Indian cinema losing a generation of viewers to Japanese anime and Korean content. Speaking to Cinema Express while promoting his upcoming film GDN, Madhavan said his 20-year-old son Vedaant and many of his peers no longer watch Tamil or Hindi films, describing the trend as “a big problem” for the country’s film industry.
Madhavan said the challenge extends beyond competition between regional film industries. With the rise of anime, he believes Indian filmmakers are competing not with a competing industry, but with an entirely different storytelling medium.
Rather than blaming viewers, the actor argued that storytellers, directors, and actors must create work that inspires audiences to return to Indian cinema. “I decided that just doing some usual commercial film isn’t something I can do,” he stated while discussing acting and the responsibility of cinema in general.
Madhavan is a veteran of Tamil and Hindi cinema who was conferred the Padma Shri in 2026 and has served as president of the Film and Television Institute of India since 2023. His remarks about Indian cinema and Japanese animecome within the context of a wider question about whether Indian filmmakers are inspiring enough to hold a young, globally connected audience.
Madhavan’s Concerns Reflect a Broader Shift in Youth Watching Habits
“They don’t even want to watch our Tamil movies. They won’t go to the theatre to watch Hindi movies or Indian movies either,” Madhavan stated during his interview. In contrast, 2025 anime theatrical offerings such as Demon Slayer Infinity Castleand Chainsaw Man Reze Arc drew substantial audiences to theaters last year.
His observation is not isolated; data from streaming platforms, market researchers, and the rapid growth of India’s anime market point towards the same. At the India Today Indo-Japan Conclave in May, Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma and creator Baishakhi Das described anime as a mainstream youth phenomenon, citing its emotional storytelling and rapidly expanding fan communities.
An earlier consumer research by JetSynthesys in 2022found that 83% of surveyed Indians preferred Japanese anime over other forms of animated content, with franchises such as Naruto, Death Note, and Attack on Titan being the top favourites.
A Hakuhodo India (reported by Oricon) survey from early 2026 highlighted the interconnected ecosystem of anime that drives youth engagement. Anime’s multi-language offering, especially the Hindi dub offering on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Crunchyroll, became a key driver.
The survey found 61.1% of the respondents prefer dubbed anime, with regional dubs being an entry point for newer audiences. It also established that 95.9% of Indian anime viewers primarily watch on smartphones, highlighting the mobile-first consumption among younger audiences, which has made it easy for the youth.
Madhvan also highlighted anime as a global phenomenon. “What’s happening in Tamil Naduis happening all over the world,” the veteran actor stated.
A 2025 global study by Crunchyroll and the National Research Group
, which surveyed nearly 29K entertainment consumers across seven markets, including India, found that 54% of Gen Z identify as anime fans. That number edged out Bollywood titles (39%) and K-dramas (43%) among that age group in terms of popularity.
The same study also found that 42% of Millennials and 24% of Gen X are also enthusiastic about anime. It reflects the strength of anime’s storytelling, which has surpassed the boundaries of age and borders to build a community across the globe.
What’s Fueling Anime’s Rise in India?
Streaming access is a major driver.Roughly 601.2M people, about 41.1% of the population, in India use OTT platforms, up from almost a quarter in 2022. The Hakuhodo India study also pointed towards Prime Video, Netflix, and JioHotstar’s services in fueling the growth.
Localized anime offerings are another important differentiator. Anime’s popularity has also resulted in growth for manga consumption in India
. 76% of manga readers are aged between 18 and 34, again reflecting a convergence across age groups.
Madhavan’s remarks reflect a broader debate within India’s entertainment industry rather than an isolated personal observation. In recent years, several filmmakers and producers have acknowledged that younger audiences are increasingly gravitating toward global content, including Japanese anime and Korean dramas, as streaming platforms broaden access to international titles. Industry reports from Ormax Media and others have similarly pointed to changing consumption habits, particularly among Gen Z, who prioritize compelling storytelling with universal themes across languages and borders.
Kamalikaa
Kamalikaa Biswas is a content writer at Outlook Respawn specializing in pop culture. She holds a Master’s in English Literature from University of Delhi and leverages her media industry experience to deliver insightful content on the latest youth culture trends.
Kamalikaa
Kamalikaa Biswas is a content writer at Outlook Respawn specializing in pop culture. She holds a Master’s in English Literature from University of Delhi and leverages her media industry experience to deliver insightful content on the latest youth culture trends.
Published At: 21 JUL 2026, 09:39 AM
Tags:AnimeIndia
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