Anand Pandit on the Decline of Conviction in Bollywood Filmmaking

The Hindi film industry, once a booming hub of creativity and entertainment, has been facing mounting challenges in recent years. Producer Anand Pandit, the head of Anand Pandit Motion Pictures, recently discussed these issues in an interview, shedding light on why Bollywood is struggling in the current landscape.

Films Have Become Projects, Not Artistic Ventures’

Anand Pandit, who has been at the helm of popular films such as Total Dhamaal and Kabzaa, spoke about how the dynamics of film production have shifted over the years. “Earlier films were made with passion, with an emphasis on storytelling and creativity. Now, they are more like business projects,” Pandit remarked.

He explained that in the past, films were built on the creative vision of writers and directors, with an emphasis on how a story would resonate with the audience. The names of celebrated screenwriters like Salim-Javed were enough to sell a film, and there was a singular focus on box office performance. Today, according to Pandit, films are seen as a series of revenue streams. “We now focus on OTT rights, satellite rights, music rights, and overseas sales. In the end, box office performance is only one of many calculations.”

This shift in perspective has led to a drastic change in how films are made. “There was a time when there was no collateral business. Box office was the only business. Now, the mentality of OTT and satellite distribution often determines the fate of a film, rather than focusing solely on the movie’s potential to draw audiences to cinemas,” he said.

Lack of Originality and Dependence on Inspiration

Another pressing issue Pandit raised was the increasing lack of originality in Bollywood scripts. While Bollywood has always drawn inspiration from various sources, the industry today leans heavily on adapting films from other industries, especially the South Indian cinema and Korean dramas. “We are more inspired by other languages and industries now,” Pandit explained. “The originality that was once the hallmark of Hindi cinema is now missing.”

In his view, filmmakers have shifted away from creating original content in favor of replicating the success of other films. This lack of fresh, innovative ideas has impacted the quality and appeal of Bollywood films. Rather than telling unique and engaging stories, many films now seem like a copy of something else.

Anand Pandit’s analysis of the current state of Bollywood raises important questions about the future of the Hindi film industry. While the rise of OTT platforms and the globalization of entertainment has opened up new avenues for filmmakers, it has also brought along new challenges. The lack of creativity, originality, and strong conviction is hindering Bollywood’s ability to produce fresh content.