Bollywood is currently facing a downturn, with many re-released films attracting more viewers than new releases, as reported by Indian media on Saturday.
According to a report, during a media discussion in New Delhi, actor Randeep Hooda and filmmaker Hansal Mehta expressed their views on the crisis in Hindi cinema. When asked why re-releases are doing better at the box office, Hansal quickly responded, “This is a social media trend. A few re-released films have done well, but that doesn’t mean all of them have.”
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At this occasion, Randeep Hooda added that everyone is following trends, saying, “I’d call it ‘bhedh chaal’—if something works, everyone starts copying it. After Stree, everyone wants to make horror comedies. As an actor, I don’t think trends should define what we do. There’s a crisis happening for several reasons.”
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Randeep also pointed out that films have become too formulaic. He explained, “There’s a lot of execution happening, not real filmmaking. We’ve isolated ourselves in an ivory tower, and there’s little room for experimentation.”
“Experimentation is now only possible on OTT platforms, but even they are looking for content that attracts a larger audience and boosts subscriptions. It’s all business-driven,” he said, emphasizing the need for someone to take a stand, hoping it would be him. “I want to do both—experimental work and projects that connect with a larger audience,”he stated.
