Bollywood Isn’t Dying, It’s Waiting to Be Disrupted: Hansal Mehta

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has a clear message for those predicting the downfall of Bollywood: the industry isn’t dying—it’s in dire need of a reset.

Mehta, known for critically acclaimed works like Shahid, Aligarh, and the Scam series, recently shared his perspective in a detailed post on X titled ‘Hindi Cinema Needs a Reset’. His remarks come after actor Aamir Khan also criticised Bollywood’s recent struggles, stating that Hindi cinema has lost touch with its storytelling roots, unlike South Indian films that continue to resonate with audiences.

Since the pandemic, Bollywood has ceded ground to South Indian cinema, which has consistently delivered blockbusters. The Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava was a rare success in an otherwise dull phase, with the last major hit, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, releasing in November 2024.

“For those predicting doom for Bollywood—pause. The industry isn’t dying. It’s waiting to be disrupted,” Mehta wrote. He argued that the real issue isn’t a lack of audience interest but an overreliance on formulaic, safe investments. “Stars don’t necessarily bring audiences; conviction does,” he wrote on Monday night.

Mehta emphasised the need to invest in actors, not stars, and backed a new generation of talent, including Zahan Kapoor (Faraaz), Aditya Rawal, Adarsh Gourav (Superboys of Malegaon), Lakshya, Raghav Juyal (Kill), Vedang Raina (Jigra), Ishaan Khatter, Sparsh Shrivastava (Laapataa Ladies), and Abhay Verma (Munjya).

Bollywood, he said, must prioritise bold storytelling, financial discipline, and smart marketing over template-driven paid publicity. “Hollywood is already betting on Gourav (Alien TV series). Bollywood needs to wake up.”

For Mehta, the formula for revival is simple: trust in talent, write fearlessly, direct with conviction, and back stories over statistics.