Bollywood’s Box Office Woes: Weak Scripts, Urban Focus, Piracy

MUMBAI (ANI)– Bollywood has been struggling at the box office, with several big-budget films failing despite major star power. Experts cite weak storytelling, a metro-centric approach, and piracy as key reasons behind the slump.

Film trade analyst Komal Nahta attributes the decline to poor script quality. He criticizes writers for finalizing drafts prematurely, emphasizing that compelling films require multiple revisions. “A script must go through multiple drafts before reaching its final form,” he stated, praising filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani’s team for their dedication to refining scripts.

Film critic Taran Adarsh points out that Bollywood’s overemphasis on metro audiences—Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad—alienates the mass-market audience. “Most films fail because they don’t cater to the wider Hindi belt,” he explained, citing the success of Pushpa, Stree, Jawan, Pathaan, Animal, and Gadar, which resonated with the masses.

Adarsh also notes how social media teams and entourages now influence actor’s film choices, unlike earlier times when actors personally evaluated scripts. This shift, he argues, impacts film quality.

Piracy further worsens Bollywood’s troubles. Salman Khan’s Sikandar leaked online on its release day, with Nahta verifying the leak before making it public. He stressed how piracy significantly reduces box-office revenue, stating, “If a film is available for free, why would someone buy a ticket?”

Industry observers warn that unless script quality improves, mass audiences are prioritized, and piracy is tackled, Bollywood’s struggles may persist.