What's next for Bollywood amid rising India-Pak tensions? Experts weigh in

India Today

13-05-2025

As political tensions between India and Pakistan rise, the ripple effect is being felt across various sectors, especially the entertainment industry. With recent films like 'Bhool Chuk Maaf' opting for a direct-to-OTT release after initially announcing a theatrical debut, a key question emerges: is this the new normal? How will this shift affect Bollywood and its business going forward, particularly at a time when the industry is already navigating a rough patch?advertisementWe spoke to trade analysts to weigh in on the current scenario facing the Hindi film industry.Trade analyst Taran Adarsh told India Today, "After the ceasefire, we've seen a noticeable jump in box office collections during the weekend. That's a very positive sign—it shows the box office is slowly getting back on track. Recently, we've had successes like Sunny Deol's 'Jaat,' which performed well across single screens and urban multiplexes, and now 'Raid 2' and 'Kesari Chapter 2' which is doing extremely well across the board. So, three theatrical successes within a month is an encouraging trend."
He added, "Looking ahead, even the advance bookings for the upcoming Hollywood biggies like 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning' are promising. Let's hope this momentum continues, especially now that the ceasefire is in place." The film recorded over 11000 advance bookings in less than 24 hours.advertisementTheatre owner and trade expert Vishek Chauhan shared his perspective, "The last quarter did fairly well, with 'Raid 2,' 'Kesari Chapter 2,' 'Chhaava.' But the next quarter looks very promising - take the upcoming film 'Housefull 5,' for example. Its recent song has been greatly loved and has made a significant impact. I believe the next quarter, starting in June, is going to be much stronger. With major releases like 'Housefull 5,' which is a hugely popular franchise, things are looking fantastic." "Following that, we also have Aamir Khan's film (Sitaare Zameen Par) coming up in June, along with many other big releases. The Independence Day weekend will bring films like 'War 2' and more, so yes, the upcoming quarter is looking much better, with major franchises leading the way," he added.But is there cause for concern over the growing trend of films being postponed or pushed to direct digital release? Taran commented, "Except for 'Bhool Chuk Maaf,' no other films have shifted to a direct-to-digital release. After the positive response to 'Raid 2' over the weekend, it's clear that theatrical releases are here to stay. From May 16 onwards, all upcoming releases are expected to proceed as planned. There are no more postponements or last-minute changes to digital releases." advertisementVishek mentioned, "Regarding the recent Maddock situation, I think the only questionable aspect was the timing—cancelling just a day before release. But the situation was critical, and my full sympathies lie with Maddock. They're one of the few production houses that have consistently understood the pulse of the audience and delivered great films. If they decide to cancel one film, it's likely in the larger interest of their company. As exhibitors, we should respect that. The money saved will likely be reinvested in future films."When asked if he feels the current tension will affect Bollywood's visibility, Vishek added, "We will continue to see films being pulled, reshuffled, or questioned theatrically until we find a clearer trend. For now, it seems branded entertainment, franchises, or star-driven films are the safer bet. For instance, Kesari 2—formerly titled Shankara—has already done 70–80 crores in business. Audiences are showing clear preference for big brands and franchises like Housefull 5, War 2, Son of Sardar 2, Raid 2, etc.He concluded, "That said, we're still in a phase of churn. It will take some more time for the industry to figure out a steady formula like we had pre-Covid. But the water will find its level.'Even as tensions loom across borders, the entertainment industry seems to be responding to the disruption with resilience, and in some cases, even viewing it as a necessary adjustment in the national interest. You May Also Like