Is Bollywood Heading Towards Extinction? The Shocking Reality of Its Future

By Sharad Rai

This may not be a widely publicised story, but it is certainly a startling one. Several major Bollywood film companies are currently fighting to survive. The glamorous image of Bollywood is far removed from the reality behind the scenes. Some of the biggest production houses are now selling significant stakes to corporate players in order to stay afloat.

One of the most talked-about examples is filmmaker Karan Johar, who has sold 50% of his production company, Dharma Productions, to Adar Poonawalla—the same Adar Poonawalla who made headlines during the Covid era through large-scale vaccine manufacturing and sales. Another major development involves Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s production house, Bhansali Productions. His upcoming film Love and War could not secure direct investors easily, leading Saregama India to acquire a 28% stake in the company, a share that may soon increase to 51%.

A similar trend can be seen with the makers of the upcoming film Don 3. The well-known production house Excel Entertainment, owned by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, has entered into a business partnership with Universal Music. This is not merely a creative collaboration but a strategic commercial move involving soundtrack rights. The gradual loss of full ownership by film banners began nearly three years ago, when Dinesh Vijan’s production company Maddock Films sold 50% of its stake to Napier Capital. Today, several other production houses are reportedly in talks to bring in corporate partners. There is even speculation that Yash Raj Films may soon collaborate with a corporate giant.

In simple terms, control of film production houses is steadily shifting into corporate hands. Those who earlier financed films are now emerging as owners. It may not be long before the “Bollywood” tag itself fades away, replaced by banners associated with companies that manufacture bolts, soap, tobacco, or even aircraft. The process has already begun. Soon, film banners may no longer carry iconic names like Bombay Talkies, Mehboob Studio, or RK Films, but instead reflect corporate branding.

This situation brings to mind a personal anecdote. Last week marked the birth anniversary of Om Puri. During one of his birthdays, while speaking to me, he grew visibly irritated when I repeatedly used the word “Bollywood.” He said, “Why do you keep saying Bollywood again and again? Why should we copy the name Hollywood? I won’t use that term.” This memory feels relevant today, as an industry that never truly had an original name is now facing fragmentation and decline. Yet, there is little public concern.

Bollywood is slowly breaking apart, and this process is already underway. A clear sign of this is that many film workers and technicians in Mumbai are losing employment, while cities like Lucknow, Bhopal, Chhattisgarh, and Patna are facing a shortage of skilled film technicians. Smaller, regional units connected to Bollywood have begun moving away from Mumbai to smaller cities. New studios are opening in Chandigarh, Patna, and Varanasi, where small films and music albums are being shot regularly. Meanwhile, studios in Mumbai lie unused.

Music recording studios in smaller cities have been active for years, while many of Mumbai’s recording studios have turned into storage spaces. Large recording studios are shutting down because songs for big films are now often recorded in London or Los Angeles. A.R. Rahman, for instance, rarely records music in India anymore. Big-budget films with major stars have long shifted their shoots to foreign locations.

As a result, Mumbai—the city once synonymous with Bollywood—is heading toward a state of decline. Marathi films are now shot in Kolhapur, Pune, and Satara due to lower costs. Bhojpuri films are made in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, while Chhattisgarhi and Rajasthani films are shot locally in their respective states. Offices of B- and C-grade producers have shut down. More film work is happening outdoors and in regional hubs, giving rise to names like Pollywood, Tollywood, Jollywood, Bhojiwood, and many others.

What little remains of the big film banners may soon be overshadowed by corporate brand names. This raises a serious question: in the coming years, will the very name “Bollywood” disappear altogether?

FAQs

Q1. What changes has Karan Johar made to Dharma Productions?

Karan Johar has sold 50% stake of his film company Dharma Productions to Adar Poonawalla.

Q2. Who is Adar Poonawalla?

Adar Poonawalla is the same person who played a major role in distributing the vaccine during the Covid-era and now he has invested in Bollywood.

Q3. What changes have happened in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's company?

28% stake in Bhansali Productions now goes to Saregama India, which may go up to 51% in the future.

Q4. Why did Bhansali Productions sell its stake?

Bhansali Productions' upcoming film 'Love and War' was not getting direct investors, so he sold his stake to raise investment.

Q5. What problems are the big Bollywood companies facing?

The companies are facing problems like financial crisis and a lack of enough investors for big-budget films.

karan johar daughter | karan johar family | karan johar father | Karan Johar news | Karan Johar Love Life | Bollywood Filmmaker