Has Bollywood Lost Its Charm?

I grew up watching Bollywood, and the 90s and 2000s era felt like the golden age of rewatchable Bollywood films. No matter how many times I watched Kal Ho Naa Ho, Dil Chahta Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Hum Tum or Jab We Met, I never got bored. There was a kind of comfort these movies brought.

Even between 2010 and 2019, Bollywood still made unforgettable movies like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do, 3 Idiots and Barfi. These were also very rewatchable. The storyline was compelling, the acting was super on point, and the scenes were very well executed.

Comedy was real comedy, not just forced jokes. Movies like Hera Pheri, Hungama, Garam Masala and Welcome can still make people laugh, no matter how many times they watch them. Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. is also one of those films you never forget. Super hilarious at times, but it also managed to hit every emotion.

But after 2020, I noticed I stopped looking forward to Bollywood films. Many moves that were released during this time no longer felt impressive. There were still some genuinely strong films like Andhadhun, Drishyam and Thappad, but these films felt more like really good one-time watches rather than timeless comfort movies you keep going back to.

Movies like Jawan and Pathaan became huge box office hits, but honestly, Jawan felt more like a decent one-time watch to me. I never really felt interested in watching Pathaan, especially after hearing people say it was messy and overly chaotic.

Then came Dhurandhar.

Now this movie was truly captivating. Both parts were thrilling, intense and gripping from beginning to end. Ranveer Singh and the rest of the cast delivered legendary performances. Despite how long the movie was, there was barely a boring moment. After watching it, many other films suddenly started feeling flat in comparison.

But some of the scenes in Dhurandhar were shockingly violent, which felt mentally disturbing. And I notice extreme violence is not just in this film, but also being portrayed in many other Bollywood films. I mean, is violence becoming the new Hindi cinema trend? Is it what viewers want nowadays?

Some movies today also feel emotionally flat. I tried watching Naadaniyaan and switched it off after ten minutes. I also couldn't finish Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, and Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, had some beautifully shot scenes, but the storyline was weak. It felt like something was missing, like it was lacking emotional depth.

Even Saiyaara, which received lots of positive reviews, felt okay to me. I felt it was slightly overhyped and probably more of a one-time watch.

It is both. Audiences are also becoming much harder to impress because of the endless entertainment options that are competing for our attention. Instagram reels, YouTube, TikTok-style content, K-dramas, Hollywood movies and streaming platforms have completely changed viewing habits.

Attention spans feel shorter now, so movies have to be truly gripping to keep people emotionally invested for nearly three hours.

At the same time, I think Bollywood is also struggling with originality. Many dialogues now feel AI-written or overly polished. The chemistry between actors feels weaker, humour feels forced, and songs are far less memorable compared to older Bollywood movies.

Back then, one good Bollywood movie could stay in your mind for years, either because there wasn't endless content competing every day or the movie actually had some depth to it. Romantic movies, light-hearted rom-coms and family entertainers gave us warmth. You could endlessly rewatch films because they made you feel something.

Now, Bollywood seems stronger at darker genres like crime thrillers, spy action films, realistic dramas and socially aware storytelling. Some of these movies are genuinely entertaining and technically very well made. But many still feel like one-time watches rather than timeless classics.

I even noticed many people on Reddit saying the same thing. Some feel Bollywood has become oversaturated, repetitive and emotionally disconnected. Others believe it lost some of its spark after COVID. Some even ask whether Bollywood has “died.”

I feel the industry is improving in some areas while losing charm in others. It is getting better at darker storytelling, action, thrillers and socially aware films. But when it comes to classic romance, comfort movies, memorable comedy and emotional warmth, it does not hit the same way anymore.