New Delhi | September 5, 2025

Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has pushed back against claims that Hindi cinema is facing a major crisis after several big-budget films failed to perform at the box office this year. Speaking at a press event for his upcoming production Mirai, Johar stressed that the conversation around failures has been exaggerated and that storytelling remains the true driver of success.

This year, apart from a few successes like Chhaava, several high-profile films with heavy budgets struggled to make a mark. When asked if high production costs and inflated actor fees were the reason behind these underperformances, Johar dismissed the idea. According to him, “every film has its own destiny,” and success cannot be attributed only to budgets or star power.

Johar explained that even films with big stars have sometimes failed, while smaller projects have thrived. He noted that actors today are far more aware of the changing landscape and are aligning themselves with the director’s vision rather than just demanding massive fees. “We can’t put everything in a box,” he said, pointing out that casting young actors or mounting a large-scale project doesn’t guarantee success. “It has happened several times that such films also haven’t worked. You can’t say anything for sure.”

The filmmaker highlighted that cinema goes through phases, and audience preferences shift constantly. Citing the example of Saiyaara, a musical starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda that became a runaway hit with ₹569.75 crore earnings on a ₹50 crore budget, Johar said that not every musical can replicate that kind of magic. Similarly, Mahavatar Narsimha, an animated film, grossed ₹319 crore globally, but that doesn’t mean all animated films will achieve such success.

“Box office has no rules,” Johar remarked, underscoring that what works once cannot be used as a formula for the future. Instead, he emphasised that storytelling continues to be the bedrock of cinema. Ultimately, he said, it is the audience that decides which film earns love, respect, and commercial success.

Johar’s defence comes at a time when Bollywood has been criticised for failing to deliver consistent hits, especially compared to the rising wave of South Indian cinema and Hollywood releases. By urging patience and perspective, he suggested that the narrative of doom around Hindi films is overstated.

About Mirai

Johar is backing Mirai, directed by Karthik Gattamneni and Anil Anand. The film features Teja Sajja, Shriya Saran, Jayaram, and Jagapathi Babu in lead roles and is set to release in cinemas on 12 September 2025.

Upcoming Projects

Apart from Mirai, Johar’s Dharma Productions is also gearing up for Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, directed by Shashank Khaitan. The romantic comedy stars Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Rohit Saraf, and Sanya Malhotra and will hit theatres on 2 October 2025.

By reinforcing that Bollywood’s struggles are not new or unique, Johar reminded audiences and critics alike that cinema is unpredictable, and success always comes back to strong storytelling.