Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri recently made strong statements about the current state of Bollywood. He believes the industry is in trouble, but he sees this as an opportunity for positive change.
In a social media post titled Bollywood Is Falling — and It’s the Best Thing That Could Happen, Vivek said on Saturday (March 8) that Bollywood is struggling with a lack of fresh ideas, new producers, and passionate filmmakers. He compared the situation to breaking down an old building to make way for a new one.
He pointed out that only a few studios remain, and they are more focused on money and agendas than on making good films. The director also shared concerns about the lack of young talent in Bollywood. He said that many young actors today are more interested in social media than acting. According to him, many of them cannot speak Hindi well or show real emotions on screen.
'No new producers, no fresh ideas'
"Bollywood is in shambles. And that’s good for the industry. To erect a new building, you must demolish the old one. This is that time. Today, Bollywood has hardly any independent producers. No new producers. No fresh ideas. No innovative distribution or marketing strategies. A few years ago, there were a dozen studios — now just two or three remain, and they too are monopolistic and here for reasons other than filmmaking. The passion for cinema has been replaced by corporate greed and agenda-driven content," he wrote on X.
Vivek on re-releases of old films
"There are no movies — that’s why there’s a mad rush to release old films. Most directors who could have made a difference in these critical times have given up and succumbed to OTT," Vivek wrote.
He added, "For the film business to survive, star-actors are essential. But there are no promising new stars. If you want to cast someone from the 21–35 age group, you’ll find almost none — neither heroes nor heroines. The few that exist can’t speak Hindi, can’t emote, and seem more interested in Instagram than their own craft. And without having achieved much, they come with an entourage — managers, social media teams, trainers, and whatnot."
The filmmaker also said that when newcomers or outsiders are cast, it becomes difficult to get funding for films.
Vivek: Box office is hoax office
"The box office, once the ultimate test of a film, has now become a hoax office. You can publish any figure, give away free tickets, arrange corporate bookings, manipulate BookMyShow — do whatever you want. It’s a free-for-all. Everyone’s screaming about box office numbers, but their films have nothing to say. There are no genuine critics, no real film magazines or tabloids. Anyone can pay and get anything written. The irony? The mighty ones who created this corrupt chakravyuh are now playing the victims. The monster they built is ready to swallow them. And I’m happy. I hope it does. I hope it devours them, so they can reincarnate — this time as pure film creators, not monster-makers," the filmmaker added.
Take a look at his full post here:
Vivek is often surrounded by controversies due to his strong opinion. The filmmaker never stays behind in voicing his point of view about the latest affairs on social media. He also often gives befitting replies to trolls.
Meanwhile, on the work front, he wrapped up the shoot of The Delhi Files and said that the film is based on the 'painful chapter' of India's history.
Vivek has carved a niche for himself with his compelling portrayal of real stories and sensitive issues. His other films like The Kashmir Files, The Tashkent Files, and The Vaccine War, tackled aspects of history and contemporary society with a focus on uncovering hidden truths.
The Delhi file: The Bengal Chapter is directed by Vivek and jointly produced by his actress-wife Pallavi Joshi, and Abhishek Agarwal. The film will hit the big screens on August 15, 2025.
