Bollywood 2024: Can Bollywood Shine Without Its Staple Superstars?

Bollywood 2024-In the year 2023, Bollywood experienced a celestial realignment of stars. Shah Rukh Khan made a triumphant return, dominating the box office with a triple header that created new milestones. Ranbir Kapoor solidified his status as a superstar with the film Animal, while Sunny Deol astonished audiences with the epic sequel Gadar 2. Salman Khan’s Tiger 3 roared briefly but impressively, adding to the industry buzz. Even Ranveer Singh savored success with the film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

Yet, as the confetti settles and 2024 unfolds, an intriguing silence blankets the industry: not a single film from the lineup of megastars—SRK, Salman, Ranbir, Sunny, and Ranveer—is scheduled for release this year. Aamir Khan? Well, don’t even get us started.

Following the box-office stumble of Laal Singh Chaddha, he has retreated to his zen garden, murmuring about a Campeones remake titled Sitaare Zameen Par. However, even that remains a mere twinkle in his eye without a confirmed release date.

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Industry pundits are contemplating the repercussions of the absence of these stars from the upcoming cinematic roster. The looming question is—can Bollywood uphold its momentum without the tried-and-tested allure of star power?

Just last year, four out of the five all-time blockbusters in Hindi cinema emerged, each surpassing the Rs5 billion mark in domestic business, creating a remarkable record that won’t be easily surpassed. In a year devoid of ‘Khan releases,’ the responsibility of carrying the Bollywood torch rests on the shoulders of prominent stars like Hrithik Roshan, Ajay Devgn, and Akshay Kumar.

Taking the lead is the highly anticipated Fighter, set to release on January 25, an aerial action extravaganza directed by Siddharth Anand, the mastermind behind Pathaan. This star-studded cast includes Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor as the cinematic squadron leaders, soaring high for their country.

It won’t be surprising if this film emerges as one of the major hits of the new year. Stories centered around the air force seem to be the flavor of the season. Despite Kangana Ranaut’s Tejas facing setbacks last year, at least three films, including Operation Valentine and Akshay Kumar’s thriller Sky Force, are set to explore this theme following the release of Fighter.

After facing eight setbacks following his blockbuster Sooryavanshi in 2021, 2024 holds the potential for Akshay Kumar to stage a significant comeback, reminiscent of an SRK-style resurgence. He’s poised to reclaim the spotlight with three major movies: first, a bold step with the iconic reboot of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan in April, followed by Welcome To The Jungle and Sky Force. Simultaneously, Ajay Devgn places his bet on the action thriller Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty.

However, these seem to be the only major action films from Bollywood this year, the kind that traditionally draws audiences to theaters. The question looms: can Ajay and Akshay deliver blockbusters to keep the popcorn flowing? Bollywood might find it challenging to replicate the success witnessed last year. Likewise, Hollywood grapples with a disruption in its schedule of big-budget releases due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, projecting an anticipated 30 percent reduction in Hollywood releases. So, who will take center stage with significant successes?

My bet is on Tollywood—the Telugu film industry. During Bollywood’s challenging phase in 2021 and 2022, Tollywood emerged as the country’s leading industry, driven by massive hits like Pushpa, RRR, Karthikeya 2, and Sita Ramam, which performed exceptionally well nationwide. Although Bollywood staged a strong comeback, 2023 proved lackluster for the Telugu film industry, lacking major hits on the pan-India level. This year, the Telugu film industry appears poised to capture the pan-India market once again. Telugu superstars Allu Arjun, Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Prabhas, and Mahesh Babu have big action films set to release this year.

Regarding potential pan-India blockbusters, I have two personal favorites that I believe could be massive box office successes. First up is Kalki 2898 AD, standing as one of the most expensive Indian films ever made with a staggering budget of Rs6 billion. Starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, and Amitabh Bachchan, this sci-fi epic, simultaneously shot in Telugu and Hindi, promises a pan-Indian spectacle blending ancient mythology with futuristic sci-fi. Set in the year 2898 AD, this ambitious action film explores a futuristic dystopia marred by sin, immorality, and catastrophic events, revolving around Kalki, a modern-day avatar of Lord Vishnu, protecting the world from the evil forces of Kaali.

The second film I anticipate is Pushpa 2 — The Rule, marking the epic conclusion to the two-part action drama. The first installment, Pushpa: The Rise (2021), redefined Tollywood’s power with its raw energy, earthy grit, and the iconic ‘jhukega nahi’ signature move, cementing Allu Arjun as a national phenomenon. Now, the fiery saga resumes on August 15, 2024, more intense and relentless than before. The stakes have never been higher, and the anticipation surrounding it has reached unprecedented levels, with film trade experts predicting this sequel to be the biggest success in Tollywood’s history.

I believe that the competition between South Vs North movies has ignited a healthy rivalry—not just for dominance at the box office but for supremacy in storytelling. Thus, 2024 might lack the star power of the Khans or the Kapoor clan, but it certainly does not lack ambition or potential. It opens the gates for a surge of fresh narratives, bold experimentation, and talented actors eager to redefine stardom. One thing remains evident: the audience emerges as the ultimate victor, promised a spectrum of cinematic experiences bound to stir emotions and captivate hearts.