Filmmaker Rohit Shetty yesterday called for greater unity across India’s film industries, saying terms such as Bollywood, Kollywood and Tollywood only create unnecessary divisions and do little to reflect the true spirit of Indian cinema. Emphasising collaboration over categorisation, Shetty said filmmakers across languages should work together to strengthen the collective identity of cinema in the country.

Speaking at the launch of the Indian National Cine Academy (INCA) in Mumbai, Shetty said he does not subscribe to such labels and believes cinema in India should be celebrated as one. According to a PTI report, the filmmaker stressed that Indian cinema, whether Hindi, Telugu or from any other language, should be seen as part of a shared creative ecosystem rather than fragmented industries.

“It should be one nation, one celebration and one cinema that is Indian cinema. I think it’s high time that we all come together again. Bollywood, Tollywood — earlier it was said as a joke. It’s not something to be proud of, being called Bollywood,” Shetty told reporters at the event.

He added that filmmakers should identify their work by language and culture, but remain united under the larger banner of Indian cinema.

The filmmaker, known for delivering some of Hindi cinema’s biggest commercial successes, said the growing cross-industry collaborations in recent years are a step in the right direction. However, he underlined the need for a more conscious effort to break barriers and foster mutual respect across regions and languages.

Shetty also said platforms such as INCA could play an important role in bringing filmmakers together and encouraging dialogue across industries. According to him, celebrating cinema collectively will not only strengthen India’s cultural voice but also help the industry present itself more confidently on the global stage.

Reiterating his belief, Shetty said the focus should remain on storytelling and craft rather than labels. “We are Hindi cinema, Indian cinema, Telugu cinema. But above all, we are Indian cinema. It’s time we come together and make Indian cinema proud,” he said.