Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

2023: When Bollywood made a spectacular theatrical comeback

Major Bollywood titles that failed to work at the ticket window in 2022 included Samrat Prithviraj, Raksha Bandhan, Shamshera, and Laal Singh Chaddha.

2023: When Bollywood made a spectacular theatrical comeback

The year that marked the triumphant return of the alpha male to the big screen and ageing star Shah Rukh Khan fronting Bollywood’s march back to the box office after Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki with Sunny Deol and Karan Johar walking alongside, reviving their careers and the fortunes of the Hindi film industry.

The year, the first after the pandemic, began with Pathaan and finishes with Dunki, the two very different Shah Rukh films bookending the success of Sunny Deol starrer Gadar 2, Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani and the hugely controversial Animal that brought back Bobby Deol into the limelight.


But 2023 was not just about macho heroes fighting their way to victory in high-octane, high-tech thrillers edged with VFX and testosterone. Bollywood’s return to its theatrical glory days was also about sequels and agenda-driven films.

Last year, around this time, Hindi cinema was struggling to make a mark in theatres, while films from the South captured the hearts of audiences across India, the pinnacle being the RRR song "Naatu Naatu" winning at the Oscars.

Major Bollywood titles that failed to work at the ticket window in 2022 included Samrat Prithviraj, Raksha Bandhan, Shamshera, and Laal Singh Chaddha.

The revival kickstarted with Shah Rukh’s spy act in the January release Pathaan which brought him back to movies after a gap of four years. The Siddharth Anand-directed film became one of the biggest hits of the year with its earnings of £100 million worldwide, leading to many think-pieces and discussions for its palatable patriotism in a hero who was found in a theatre and named 'Pathaan' by a group of Afghan women he saves during a mission.

Shah Rukh followed it up with another hit in September's Jawan, which once again saw the actor live up to the hype surrounding his return. Directed by Atlee, the film went on to mint more money than Pathaan by earning over £101 million.

He seems to have hit a hat-trick with Dunki, which has done reasonably well at the box office despite mixed reviews. Though its earnings don’t match up to the earlier two films, the Rajkumar Hirani directorial has grossed over £25 million globally since its December 21 release.

Gadar 2 was the surprise package of the year. It made over £50 million and marked one of the most spectacular returns to forms for Sunny in his 40th year in films.

In fact, the year belonged to the Deol family. It saw Papa Dharmendra playing a hardcore romantic in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani and younger brother Bobby walk away with praise for his brief but impactful role in Animal.

Besides, Sunny's son Rajveer also made his acting debut with Dono, which did not do the numbers but got its lead actor noticed.

With the film, Johar, whose last full-fledged feature was 2016's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, reminded his fans why he continues to be a filmmaker who knows how to tug at the heartstrings through his larger-than-life cinema.

The family entertainer, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, is Johar's most realised film, delivering both laughs and lessons on equality and respect in relationships while overturning stereotypes that have long been Hindi movie tropes.

He has acknowledged in interviews that he tried to correct past mistakes in his cinema through the film about a rich Punjabi brat and a Bengali journalist.

While there was a Rocky Aur Rani... giving viewers a progressive vision, the year ended with Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, in one of the most divisive films of 2023.

Just like Vanga's Kabir Singh, Animal too courted controversy over its projection of masculinity, violence, and its promotion of the toxic, overtly macho hero. The film, however, is one of the biggest Hindi blockbusters of the year earning over £80 million.

Before Animal, Ranbir had a solid hit in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, which also raised eyebrows for its depiction of gender dynamics.

There were smaller, quieter successes too.

Three years after Shikara, Vidhu Vinod Chopra returned to the big screen as a director with 12th Fail, a low-budget film whose box office success (over Rs 60 crore) surprised many.

With testosterone seemingly at an all-time high, cine-goers didn't quite warm up to female-led stories, except for Rani Mukerji's Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway.

Kangana Ranaut's Tejas, Vidya Balan's Neeyat, Akelli featuring Nushrratt Bharuccha, Shilpa Shetty's Sukhee and Dhak Dhak, starring Ratna Pathak Shah and Dia Mirza, didn't work.

It was also a year of sequels with Gadar 2, OMG 2, Tiger 3, Dream Girl 2, and Fukrey 3 releasing and proving the worth of franchise cinema.

Salman Khan had a moderately successful year with one hit and one flop in Tiger 3 and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.

Kartik Aaryan, who delivered his career-best numbers with 2022's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, had a mixed year. His mid-budget film Satyaprem Ki Katha entered the £10 million club after an abysmal show by Shehzada, the Hindi remake of Telugu hit Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo.

His contemporary Vicky Kaushal too had a similar year. Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, a mid-budget family entertainer, was a surprise hit, while Sam Bahadur barely managed to keep its head above water amid fierce competition from Animal.

Kaushal's The Great Indian Family didn't measure up to expectations.

Like 2022, this year also had its fair share of propaganda movies. Some hit the mark like Vipul Shah's The Kerala Story, while others like Om Raut's Adipurush and Vivek Agnihotri's The Vaccine War failed.

Adipurush, a retelling of the Ramayana, was one of the buzziest films of the year but upon its release attracted ridicule over its language, storytelling, and poor quality of VFX.

The films that didn't work at the ticket window were many. Some of them were: Selfiee, Mission Raniganj, Bheed, Sudhir Mishra's Afwaah, IB71, and Khichdi 2: Welcome to Paanthukistan.

More For You

Dhanush & young son Linga
Instagram Screengrab/life_of_aakash/redgiantmovies_

Dhanush stuns fans as young son Linga joins him for impromptu dance at 'Idli Kadai’ audio launch

Highlights:

  • Actor-director Dhanush performed live with composer GV Prakash at Chennai event.
  • Youngest son Linga joined his father on stage, dancing alongside him.
  • Dhanush recounted childhood memories that inspired the story of Idli Kadai.
  • The film, featuring a star-studded cast, is set to release on 1 October.

Dhanush delighted fans at the Idli Kadai audio launch in Chennai with a touching father-son moment, performing the film’s hit song Enjami Thandhaane alongside music composer GV Prakash. The actor’s youngest son, Linga, joined him on stage, creating a heartfelt moment that resonated with audiences. Dhanush also shared personal childhood memories, revealing how his love for idlis inspired the upcoming film.

Dhanush & young son Linga Dhanush stuns fans as young son Linga joins him for impromptu dance at 'Idli Kadai’ audio launch Instagram Screengrab/life_of_aakash/redgiantmovies_

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump

Trump said the suspect had been arrested earlier for 'terrible crimes,' including child sex abuse, grand theft auto and false imprisonment, but was released under the Biden administration because Cuba refused to take him back.

Getty Images

Trump says accused in Dallas motel beheading will face first-degree murder charge

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has described Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, the Indian-origin motel manager killed in Dallas, as a “well-respected person” and said the accused will face a first-degree murder charge.

Nagamallaiah, 50, was killed last week at the Downtown Suites motel by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old undocumented Cuban immigrant with a criminal history.

Keep ReadingShow less
AI art

Two leading AI tools shaping digital art

Seedream 4.0 / Nano Banana

Seedream 4.0 and Nano Banana fuel AI art craze themed around Bollywood

Highlights

  • Two leading AI tools shaping digital art, Seedream 4.0 and Google’s Gemini Nano Banana
  • Seedream 4.0 generates high-resolution imaginative visuals in multiple styles
  • Nano Banana transforms selfies into retro Bollywood-inspired portraits
  • Viral on Instagram, TikTok, and X, with global audiences engaging
  • Experts highlight data privacy, authenticity, and ethical concerns

AI-powered creativity is sweeping social media, with Seedream 4.0 and Nano Banana AI capturing the imagination of users worldwide. Seedream 4.0 is designed for digital artists and hobbyists who want to create detailed, high-quality visuals in a wide range of styles, from realistic landscapes to abstract scenes. Nano Banana, on the other hand, allows users to turn selfies into 1990s Bollywood-inspired portraits, often featuring traditional South Asian attire and nostalgic retro backdrops.

A global viral phenomenon


Both tools have seen rapid adoption in 2025. Seedream 4.0 attracts those seeking versatile, high-resolution creative outputs. Nano Banana has gone viral for its playful, culturally resonant edits. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X are flooded with creations from influencers, celebrities, and everyday users, showing the broad appeal of AI-driven art.

Keep ReadingShow less
James Bourne quits McFly tour

James Bourne confirms his exit from the McFly and Busted joint tour hours before opening night

Getty Images/Instagram/busted

James Bourne quits McFly tour just hours before launch sparking shock over mystery health battle

Highlights:

  • James Bourne announces exit from the joint tour just hours before its launch
  • The Busted star says he is not well enough to perform
  • McFly and Busted will continue the tour as planned without him
  • Fellow bandmates and fans send messages of support and encouragement

In an unexpected turn, James Bourne has pulled out of the much-anticipated McFly tour, just hours before the opening show in Birmingham. The Busted star shared that ongoing health issues have forced him to withdraw from the joint run, which was due to see both bands performing their greatest hits on the same stage. His decision comes as a major blow to fans who had been awaiting this collaboration.

James Bourne quits McFly tour James Bourne confirms his exit from the McFly and Busted joint tour hours before opening night Getty Images/Instagram/busted

Keep ReadingShow less
Street Fighter

Street Fighter is now in production

Vidyut Jammwal steps into 'Street Fighter' arena as Dhalsim to face Hollywood heavyweights in brutal 1993 tournament

Highlights:

  • The live-action Street Fighter film will release in October 2026 via Paramount Pictures
  • Indian star Vidyut Jammwal plays Dhalsim in the multicultural ensemble cast
  • The film is directed by Kitao Sakurai and shot for IMAX
  • Set in 1993, the story follows Ryu and Ken returning for a high-stakes World Warrior Tournament

The upcoming Street Fighter movie is gearing up for a worldwide release in October 2026 under Paramount Pictures, and the buzz around Vidyut Jammwal in Street Fighter is already hyping fans. Bringing together a diverse international line-up, this live-action adaptation aims to reintroduce the beloved gaming saga to a new generation while tapping into the nostalgia of its 1990s arcade roots.

Street Fighter Street Fighter is now in production Instagram/streetfightermovie

Keep ReadingShow less