Vivek Agnihotri Says ‘Bollywood is Falling – And That’s the Best Thing That Could Happen!’
Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has once again sparked a debate with his strong remarks on the current state of Bollywood. He believes that while the industry is facing a major downfall, this phase is necessary for its transformation.
On Saturday (March 8), he shared a social media post titled ‘Bollywood is Falling – And That’s the Best Thing That Could Happen’, where he expressed concerns about the lack of fresh ideas, new producers, and passionate filmmakers. He compared the current scenario to demolishing an old building to make way for a new one.
‘No New Producers, No Fresh Ideas’ – Vivek
According to Agnihotri, Bollywood is now controlled by just a few studios that are more focused on profits and personal agendas than filmmaking.
“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 dozens of studios – now only two or three remain, and even they are monopolistic and exist for reasons other than filmmaking. The passion for cinema has been replaced by corporate greed and agenda-driven content,” he wrote.
He further stated that many filmmakers, who could have brought real change, have given up and shifted to OTT platforms instead.
Lack of New Talent in Bollywood
Agnihotri also raised concerns about the shortage of promising new actors in the industry. He pointed out that very few actors in the 21–35 age group have the skills required for mainstream cinema.
“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,” he said.
He also emphasized that casting newcomers and outsiders has become difficult due to funding challenges.
‘Box Office is Now a Hoax Office’
Agnihotri claimed that the box office, once considered the ultimate test of a film’s success, has now turned into a platform for manipulation.
“The box office has 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,” he remarked.
He also criticized the lack of genuine critics and film magazines, saying that paid reviews have destroyed the credibility of the industry.
“The irony? The powerful ones who created this corrupt system are now playing the victims. The monster they built is now 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.”
Vivek Agnihotri’s Upcoming Film – The Delhi Files
Known for his strong opinions, Vivek Agnihotri has often been at the center of controversies. He has made a name for himself with films like The Kashmir Files, The Tashkent Files, and The Vaccine War, which focus on real-life events and hidden truths.
He recently wrapped up filming for his next project, The Delhi Files: The Bengal Chapter, which he describes as a story based on a ‘painful chapter’ in India’s history. The film is co-produced by his wife Pallavi Joshi and Abhishek Agarwal and is set to release on August 15, 2025.
