Bollywood had its share of highs and lows this year. While a few movies basked in the glory of audience love, others faced outright rejection. In this realm of glitz and glamour, here are 10 instances where Bollywood missed the mark in 2023, leaving fans disappointed and vocal about their discontent. From questionable creative choices to casting missteps, these cinematic misfires took a toll on the industry’s reputation, showcasing a spectrum of missed opportunities and lessons to be learned.
Disappointing Sequels
Bollywood spared no effort in delivering lackluster and downright dreadful sequels. Whether it was Gadar 2 or Dream Girl 2, Bollywood stumbled in recreating the magic of the originals, prompting a reminder that it’s high time the industry focused on quality content.
Another sequel that left many of us disappointed is Gadar 2:
Bad Dialogues
Gone are the days when Bollywood was renowned for insightful and meaningful dialogues. With movies like Adipurush, Bollywood presented us with cringe-worthy lines, leaving us to ponder, “What happened to Bollywood?” Adipurush’s horrendous dialogues even forced the makers to make amendments after facing significant backlash.
Horrible VFX
In 2023, Bollywood heavily relied on VFX. While VFX isn’t inherently bad, poor execution is. Whether it was Adipurush’s dreadful VFX or Pathaan’s video game-like effects, fans criticized Bollywood for its over-dependence on subpar VFX.
Objectification of Women & Shameless Display of Misogyny
Bollywood’s recent release, “Animal,” has left a sour taste among many due to its overt display of massive toxicity and blatant misogyny. Disappointingly, the film seemed to cater to regressive mindsets, aiming to capitalize on box-office earnings rather than offering substantial content. From blatantly objectifying women to delivering crass dialogues and portraying abusive themes, this movie encapsulates everything wrong in its narrative. Its narrative choices not only lacked depth but also seemed to endorse problematic and regressive ideologies, contributing to a troubling portrayal that fails to reflect the progressive and inclusive direction that the film industry should be aiming for.
Flawed Casting
Bollywood made some regrettable casting choices in 2023. Whether it was Prabhas in Adipurush or the Ranveer-Alia pairing in Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, criticism arose for choices that failed to do justice to the characters and the overall movie.
Soulless Over-the-Top Family Dramas:
It’s high time Bollywood should stop serving big-budget family dramas with no soul. Despite the beautiful clothes, sets, and talented cast, Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani failed to impress due to a lack of chemistry, good songs, fresh perspective, and an engaging screenplay. Moreover, movie also faced lot of criticism for over glorification of adultery in the movie.
Selling Bad Writing in the Name of ‘Masala’
It’s disappointing how films like Jawan wasted immensely talented actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, and Vijay Sethupathi with subpar writing, all in the name of making a masala film. The movie had countless blunders and shallow character development. Bollywood should cease selling bad writing under the guise of masala, as it may work in the short run but will backfire in the long run.
Overreliance on Non-Performing Star Kids
Bollywood’s overreliance on non-performing star kids at the expense of deserving outsiders is disheartening. Movies featuring star kids like Tiger Shroff’s Ganpath or Arjun Kapoor’s ‘The LadyKiller’ struggle to gain traction, emphasizing the need for opportunities for deserving actors.
Audience Taken For Granted
Many makers attempted to produce movies with shoddy screenplays and lackluster acting, relying solely on star power. However, audiences have become discerning, and films like Salman Khan’s Kissi Ka Bhai Kissi Ki Jaan faced brutal rejection. Makers need to stop underestimating the audience, as relying solely on star power may have worked temporarily but won’t sustain.
Lousy South Movie Remakes
Bollywood continued its trend of delivering lackluster remakes of South movies. However, this year, the audience outright rejected films like Selfiee or Shehzaada, signaling a growing disinterest in such adaptations.
What did we miss from the list? Tell us in the comments below.