Bollywood is in a BIG CRISIS! | Downfall of Bollywood | Dhruv Rathee

Bollywood in Crisis: What’s Going On Behind the Glamour

Bollywood has always been larger than life: song‑and‑dance sequences, epic romances, dramatic villains, and stars larger than cinema halls. But in his recent exposé, Dhruv Rathee argues that the industry is in a serious state of decline. In “Bollywood is in a BIG CRISIS! | Downfall of Bollywood”, he pulls back the curtain on several fault lines—some obvious, others less discussed—that threaten Bollywood’s soul, its credibility, and its future.

Below is a breakdown of the biggest issues Rathee raises, how they stack up against the realities, and what directions Bollywood might take if it hopes to reinvent itself.

What Rathee Points Out: Key Criticisms

Box Office vs. Soul
Rathee acknowledges that Bollywood is still producing box office hits—Jawan, Pathaan, Gadar 2, Tiger 3, OMG 2 and others. YTScribe+2dhruvrathee.co.in+2 But he argues that even as the numbers climb, what people truly miss is the soul—the emotional depth, character richness, meaningful narratives that stick with you. Many of today’s successes, he feels, are engineered rather than earned. YTScribe+2dhruvrathee.co.in+2

Formula Fatigue & Lack of Originality
There is a sense that many films follow a safe template: remakes, big stars, high action, flashy visuals, predictable love stories, and grand settings. The idea is: minimize risk, maximize returns. But when you do this too much, audiences begin to feel they’ve seen it all. Original ideas are getting few opportunities, Rathee suggests. YTScribe+2daynews.tv+2

High Costs, Big Stars, Smaller Margins for Story
A recurring narrative: a large chunk of a movie’s budget is eating up actor fees, lavish promotion, marketing, set designs; less is left for script development, editing, good direction. When a film does not succeed, the risk is enormous. Rathee implies that this leaves little room for small filmmakers or those without deep pockets. YTScribe+2adampur.com+2

OTT and the Competitive Pressure
Overs‑The‑Top (OTT) platforms like Netflix, Prime, MX Player, and others are no longer just add‑ons—they are growing rivals. Content coming from OTT (regional cinema, international shows, indie films) is raising the bar. The convenience, variety, and international storytelling have made audiences more demanding. Compared to that, many Bollywood films feel less adventurous. YTScribe+2News+2

Monetization & Corporatization vs. Creativity
Rathee’s critique includes that the business model has dragged in too many middlemen, too many layers of corporatization, which often prioritize profit over risk, trends over creativity, instant returns over long‑lasting legacies. He also highlights how smaller films are squeezed out—by theater booking policies, by marketing budgets, by attention spans. YTScribe+1

Audience Expectations Are Changing
Viewers now want something more: relatability, realism, character‑driven stories, social relevance, or simply stories that don’t feel like carbon copies. Romance + action + star power are no longer enough. With the internet and global content accessible, audiences compare Bollywood not only with other Indian cinemas (Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, etc.) but also with international productions. Rathee argues Bollywood has to adjust or risk losing ground. dhruvrathee.co.in+1

What’s True, What’s More Nuanced

Rathee’s arguments strike many as fair, but as always, things are more complex than a single video can cover.

Box Office Numbers Are Not All Bad
Despite the criticisms, some films are doing well financially. There is still a large audience for big‑star spectacles. So, one can’t say Bollywood is dying, but that certain parts of its old formula may no longer work as they once did. YTScribe+2adampur.com+2

There are Still Films That Break the Mold
Rathee himself mentions films like 12th Fail, Laapataa Ladies, which did well both in budget and reception because they were built on strong content, not just star power. YTScribe

Regional & International Pressure Helps, But Isn’t a Silver Bullet
Regional cinema is indeed rising fast—not just in revenues but in storytelling, technical quality, and innovation. However, Bollywood has advantages too—scale, star reach, marketing firepower—which, if used well, can adapt. Also, not all Bollywood audiences are abandoning the mainstream; rather, many are becoming more selective.

The Love for Big Stars Isn’t Disappearing
Many viewers still love Bollywood’s song and dance, spectacle, music, romance, and strong star presence. These are cultural touchstones. So even if some of Bollywood’s old ways are under pressure, these features still have currency. It’s more about making them smarter, more emotionally grounded.

The Risk If Bollywood Doesn’t Change

From Rathee’s point of view, if Bollywood doesn’t adapt, it risks more than financial loss—it risks losing relevance. Some of the risks include:

Audience Fatigue: If every big release feels familiar, people might skip theaters or not care as much.

Talent Drain: Writers, directors, actors who want more creative freedom may choose OTT, regional cinemas, or indie films instead of mainstream Hindi cinema.

Homogenization: Bollywood might become less culturally diverse, with fewer voices, fewer viewpoints, fewer experiments.

Cultural Disconnect: As Indian society changes, Bollywood needs to reflect those changes—or audiences will find content elsewhere that feels more in tune.

What Bollywood Could Do To Recover Its Spark

Rathee suggests several corrective steps; here are some that seem most urgent:

Invest More in Script & Writing
Before casting the stars and designing grand sets, more focus on the story, character arcs, emotional depth. Give writers more voice, more resources.

Encourage New Filmmakers & Indie Voices
Create reward systems, funding, and exhibition opportunities for films made on smaller budgets that offer new perspectives. Let innovation lead, as much as big budgets.

Smart Star Management & Budgeting
Rethink how much is going into star salaries, promotions, and marketing. Allocate more toward things that directly affect the viewer’s experience—direction, editing, art direction, sound, etc.

Diverse Genres & Risk Taking
Not every film needs to be an action‑drama or romantic blockbuster. Horror, sci‑fi, slice of life, regional tales, historical fantasy, biopics, etc., can pull public interest if done well.

Leveraging OTT and Hybrid Releases
Use digital platforms not just as an afterthought but as partners. Hybrid release strategies, better streaming content, international collaborations might help reach broader audiences.

Audience Feedback, Not Just Buzz
Rather than just promoting with teasers and media hype, actually listen to what the audience is asking for—emotionally, culturally, thematically. Build momentum from word of mouth, not just media blitz.

Final Thoughts: Is Bollywood Dying, or Being Reinvented?

In the debate about whether Bollywood is in crisis, Rathee’s message is clear: it’s not necessarily dying, but it is at a crossroads. The old maps no longer fully guide the traveler. For Bollywood to remain relevant, it must evolve, keep its strengths, but change what no longer works.

For cinema lovers, this moment is bittersweet. We miss what once was—memorable characters, songs that haunt us, stories that made us laugh and cry. But we also have reasons to be hopeful: content experiments, regional triumphs, bubbling talent, and an audience that is no longer satisfied with just glitz.

If Bollywood steps up its story game, embraces its diversity, values its creatives, it might not just recover—it might become an even richer, more interesting version of itself.