Director Slams Corporate Greed, Lack of New Talent, and Manipulated Box Office Numbers
March 10, 2025: Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has sparked a major debate by declaring that Bollywood is collapsing, calling it the “best thing that could happen” to the industry. In a strongly-worded note on X (formerly Twitter), Agnihotri outlined the dire state of Hindi cinema, blaming corporate greed, the lack of fresh talent, and manipulated box office numbers for its downfall.
Also Read: Badshah’s Drastic Weight Loss Sparks Debate; Fans Compare Him to AP Dhillon
“Bollywood Is Falling—And It’s Good”
The Kashmir Files director believes that Bollywood needs to collapse and be rebuilt from scratch.
🗣️ “Bollywood is in shambles. And that’s good. To erect a new building, you must demolish the old one.”
Also Read: James Cameron Teases Exciting New Details About Avatar 3: Fire and Ash
BOLLYWOOD IS FALLING — and it’s the best thing that could happen.
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) March 8, 2025
Bollywood is in shambles. And that’s good for the industry. To erect a new building, you must demolish the old one. This is that time.
Today, Bollywood has hardly any independent producers. No new producers. No…
According to Agnihotri, Bollywood is now controlled by monopolistic studios that are in the business for reasons beyond filmmaking. He pointed out that passion for cinema has been replaced by corporate greed, leading to a lack of fresh ideas and independent producers.
“No Promising New Stars, Just Instagram Celebrities”
Agnihotri also took a dig at Bollywood’s newcomers, claiming that there are no promising stars between the ages of 21-35.
Also Read: Govinda Recalls Being Thrown Out of BR Chopra’s Office for Rejecting Mahabharat
🗣️ “If you want to cast a young actor today, you’ll hardly find any who can speak Hindi properly, emote convincingly, or focus on their craft. Instead, they are more interested in Instagram and come with a team of managers, social media handlers, and PR strategists.”
He also criticized the trend of re-releasing old films, stating that the industry is running out of fresh content.
“Box Office Is Now A Hoax Office”
In a bold statement, Agnihotri alleged that the Bollywood box office is now entirely manipulated.
🗣️ “The box office was once the ultimate test of a film. Now, it’s a hoax. You can buy your own tickets, arrange corporate bookings, and manipulate figures on BookMyShow. It’s a free-for-all.”
According to him, Bollywood is more focused on PR-driven success rather than making meaningful films, leading to inflated box office numbers and an industry detached from reality.
“The Monster Is Eating Its Creators”
In a parting shot, Agnihotri claimed that the same industry veterans who built this broken system are now suffering from it.
🗣️ “The irony? The mighty ones who created this corrupt chakravyuh are now playing the victims. The monster they built is ready to swallow them. And I’m happy. I hope it does.”
He ended with a call to action for small-town, independent storytellers to rise and create a new Hindi film industry, even suggesting that if nothing changes, Bollywood should be renamed “Instawood.”
What’s Next for Agnihotri?
Vivek Agnihotri’s last film, The Vaccine War (2023), received mixed reactions. His next project, The Delhi Files: The Bengal Chapter, is slated for release on August 15, 2025.
As Bollywood grapples with declining audience trust and a changing landscape, Agnihotri’s words have struck a nerve—is Bollywood truly falling, or is this just another phase of reinvention?
Tags: Vivek Agnihotri, Bollywood downfall, Bollywood newcomers, Hindi cinema crisis, corporate greed in Bollywood, Bollywood box office manipulation, re-released films, OTT vs theaters, Bollywood corruption