The Fall of the Superstar Era? Critics Blame Scripts, Not OTTs, for Bollywood’s Slump

Film critics Meena Iyer, Taran Adarsh, and Komal Nahta reflect on Bollywood’s ongoing struggles—blaming lazy writing, metro-centric stories, and star over-dependence for the industry’s declining success.

Mumbai, April 1: As Indian cinema continues to struggle at the box office in 2025, industry veterans and film experts are speaking out on what they believe is the root cause of Bollywood’s ongoing slump — and it’s not OTT platforms. It’s a crisis of storytelling, passion, and what film critic Meena Iyer calls a growing sense of “beimani” (dishonesty).

Iyer’s scathing critique follows a string of big-budget disappointments including Emergency, Deva, Azaad, and Salman Khan’s Sikandar, which failed to meet audience expectations despite star-studded casts and massive promotions.

“You Can’t Fool the Audience Anymore”

“We have stopped thinking about our scripts. Ek beimani aa gayi hai,” said Iyer, calling out filmmakers for prioritizing star power over solid storytelling. “They feel they have a superstar, and then they can do anything with it… It does not work like that. There should be proper focus on the script.”

She further urged the industry to invest in top-tier talent — from screenwriters to editors and composers — warning against the rise of what she described as “brain-dead cinema.”

“Good cinema is about sensible storytelling. The audience today is smart and cannot be taken for granted anymore,” Iyer concluded.

Metro-Centric Cinema Is Missing the Masses

Echoing her concerns, film trade analyst Taran Adarsh added that Bollywood’s obsession with urban storylines is alienating audiences in the Hindi heartland.

“Most films are flopping because we are making metro-centric films,” Adarsh told ANI. “What should people in small towns watch? They want entertainment rooted in local flavour.”

Citing the box office success of Pushpa, Stree, Gadar 2, Animal, and Chhaava, Adarsh emphasized that films that strike an emotional chord with the masses — not just with urban audiences — are the ones that succeed.

Adarsh also warned of a growing disconnect between filmmakers and actors, noting how decision-making today is heavily influenced by entourages, including social media managers and security personnel, rather than meaningful face-to-face storytelling sessions.

“Laziness” in Writing and the Death of Rewriting

Film critic and trade expert Komal Nahta added another layer to the conversation, pinpointing the lack of passion among today’s scriptwriters.

“Only and only laziness,” said Nahta when asked what’s gone wrong with Bollywood. “Writers today expect their first draft to be the final one. That’s not how storytelling works.”

He praised the work ethic of filmmakers like Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi, who have been known to discard nearly complete drafts if they don’t feel authentic or impactful enough.

“This is passionate filmmaking. If you think what you’ve written is perfect the first time, the audience won’t necessarily agree. You need honesty in your process,” Nahta stressed.

Piracy Deals a Blow to Sikandar

Adding to Bollywood’s woes, the much-anticipated Salman Khan starrer Sikandar faced a major setback after being leaked online on the day of its release, March 30.

Komal Nahta, one of the first to identify the leak, confirmed it after speaking with multiple industry sources. “The damage was already done. It spreads very fast,” he lamented, highlighting how piracy undermines theatrical footfall.

“If people can watch the film on their phones for free the day it releases, why would they go to the cinema hall?” he asked.

While Sajid Nadiadwala’s production team did not confirm the leak directly, they stated that anti-piracy teams were working tirelessly to remove the film from illegal platforms.

Despite the piracy setback, Sikandar, directed by AR Murugadoss and co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, managed to earn ₹54.72 crore globally on its first day — but the industry fears the long-term impact on its box office run.

All Eyes on Upcoming Releases

So far in 2025, only Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava has managed to deliver blockbuster numbers. Industry observers hope that upcoming titles like Kesari 2, Jaat, Kannappa, Toxic, Housefull 5, and Sitaare Zameen Par can reinfuse life into the ailing Hindi film industry.

But as these critics collectively point out, the road to revival lies not in formulaic blockbusters or social media hype — it’s in returning to the basics: passion, originality, and powerful storytelling.