You Can’t Simply Repeat Old Stories: Shoojit Sircar On Bollywood’s Struggles

MUMBAI (ANI)- Bollywood has had a rough start to 2025, with several big-budget releases—including Salman Khan’s Sikandar—failing to meet expectations at the box office. Amid this slump, acclaimed filmmaker Shoojit Sircar has weighed in on what he believes is holding Hindi cinema back.

He emphasized the need for innovation in storytelling.
“Filmmakers and producers are not taking risks. You can’t just repeat old stories—you have to bring fresh, insightful subjects, regardless of the genre,” he said.

Sircar also addressed the rising costs associated with star power in Bollywood, suggesting that some actors may be pricing themselves out of opportunities. “Popular actors will have to lower their fees. If they don’t, directors will stop approaching them,” he warned.

He highlighted how his own production house, Rising Sun Films, manages budgets by collaborating with talent who understand the value of restraint.

“For all our films, we’ve kept costs in check. We’ve worked with actors who know they’re part of a Shoojit Sircar film and that the budget will be modest,” he explained.

So far, Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal, stands out as the only major box office success of the year.