Producer Anand Pandit on why Bollywood films struggle at the box office

Khaleej Times

24-04-2025

Multiple high-budget Hindi films have been posting disappointing box-office collections and movies on OTT are thought to be attracting more viewers, says film producer Anand Pandit, because of a lack of originality as well as a forceful inclusion of item songs in recent years.
in an interview to ANI on Tuesday, Pandit recalled the era of [screenwriting duo] Salim-Javed when films did spectacularly well at the box office just on the basis of the credit rolls.
"I think there are two to three reasons. Earlier films were made, now more projects are made. Earlier, we writers and directors used to focus more on creative people," said Pandit.
He added: "You must have seen a time when films were sold in the name of Salim-Javed. In the last five years, you might not even know that a big writer's film was sold. So, I think it's very important that we focus on how the film will perform at the box office."
He complained of filmmakers ignoring the importance of the box office in India and said their primary focus remains on how to sell their films on OTT platforms rather than to the audience in theatres.
"There was a time in the 80s and 90s when there was no collateral business," he said.
He added, "Box office was the only business. So, keeping the audience in mind, whether they will buy the ticket and come to the cinema hall or not, keeping that in mind, films were written and made. Today, unfortunately, this is not happening because the mentality of OTT is different, the mentality of satellite is different, overseas is different."
"The second issue is that we have completely become an inspired industry. We are inspired by the South, we are inspired by Korea, we are inspired by this language. So, the originality that was there earlier, that originality is not there today," he added.
While giving the example of regional films, the producer spoke about the importance of spending money on writers.
"The director has a vision, the producer has a vision, they have a conviction about the project, about the film. I think we should not move from there. But sometimes, the director is not so confident, or the producer is not so confident, and your hero becomes very overpowering," he added.
The lack of conviction leads to a change in the scripts and the inclusion of unnecessary material in the movies, such as item songs.
"And then, not according to the project, but according to their character, they make the change, then this project is ruined. So, the item number is sometimes very important for promotion. If you get a good item number, it is very helpful for promotion on television or social media."
"And because of that item number, your music rights also increase. But if you forcefully put an item number, I think that picture also becomes boring, and its track is lost. So, I think, these things should be taken care of," he said.