Vikram Bhatt Urges Bollywood To Prioritize Mass Appeal, Not Just Star Power

MUMBAI, ANI- With Bollywood grappling with a series of box office disappointments, filmmaker Vikram Bhatt believes the path to revival lies in reconnecting with the masses and refocusing on content over star value.

The Raaz and Ghulam director noted a shift in the industry’s priorities. “Everyone forgot the masses and went towards niche films,” Bhatt said. “During COVID, people stopped going to theatres, and we stopped making massy films. The South Indian industry never made that mistake—they continue to make films for the common audience. They still enjoy heroes like Pushpa and Kantara, where the villain is clearly a villain and people clap and whistle.”

Bhatt also stressed the importance of creating a sense of urgency in storytelling—something he feels was missing from his recent project Tumko Meri Kasam, which received critical praise but failed commercially.

“We have to make films that create urgency—where people are excited for the first-day-first-show. That’s what drives turnout,” he explained.

Beyond storylines, Bhatt called for a better understanding of the industry’s financial ecosystem. He emphasized that content, not star-studded casting, should be the priority.

“This problem can be fixed quickly if music, digital, and satellite companies start backing good content instead of just big names,” he said. “If we support quality cinema, producers won’t feel pressured to chase star power.”