Bollywood is enduring a challenging period in 2023, reminiscent of a famous dialogue, “Yeh dukh kaahe khatam nahi hota be” (why is this grief not ending). The industry, which saw its highest-grossing film in 2023, “Jawan,” rake in Rs 1,160 crore, has faced a significant decline this year. The top-grosser, “Fighter,” concluded its theatrical run at Rs 358 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.
In light of this downturn, acclaimed filmmaker Karan Johar has shared his thoughts, emphasizing the need for a fundamental transformation in defining theatrical success. During a conversation with journalist Faye D’Souza on her YouTube channel, Johar highlighted the changing tastes of audiences and the necessity for films to appeal to a broader range of cinema-goers beyond just multiplexes.
“Firstly, the audiences’ tastes have become very definitive. They want a certain kind of cinema. And if you (as a maker) want to do a certain number, then your film has to perform at A, B, and C centres. Multiplexes alone will not suffice,” Johar explained.
He also pointed out the rising costs of filmmaking, noting that inflation and high actor fees are significant factors.
“There are about 10 viable actors in Hindi cinema, and they are all asking for the sun, moon, and earth. So, you pay them; then you pay for the film, and then the marketing expenditure comes. And then your film doesn’t do the numbers. Those movie stars asking for Rs 35 crore are opening to Rs 3.5 crore. How’s that math working? How do you manage all these? Yet, you have to keep making movies and creating content because you also have to feed your organization. So there’s a lot of drama, and the syntax of our cinema has not found its feet,” he added.
Johar criticised the industry’s current approach, describing it as reactive rather than proactive. “If Jawan and Pathaan worked, should we do only action? Then everybody’s running that way. Then suddenly a love story would work. I feel like we are running around like headless chickens. Conviction has taken a complete beating, and it’s all about herd mentality. We haven’t realized that there is a certain audience now that wants rooted Indian cinema and, without the pressure of what the critics have to say, pure joy,” he observed.
Johar emphasised the need for balanced storytelling that resonates with both urban and smaller-town audiences. “When you talk about urban syntax and alienate Tier 2 cities and the plexes in smaller towns, then you don’t do that massive business. You can make such urban cinema, but at a certain price,” he concluded.
Karan Johar’s latest production, “Kill,” is currently in cinemas, navigating the industry’s turbulent waters.