Digital News Guru Entertainment Desk:
On June 11, 2025, filmmaker Karan Johar spoke candidly about what he perceives as a creative stagnation in Bollywood, calling out the trend-following “herd mentality” that he believes continues to plague Hindi cinema. At the core of his critique is a straightforward message: filmmakers have forgotten conviction, opting instead to chase the next safe, tried-and-tested template.
Karan Johar Slams Bollywood’s Copycat Culture
During a candid interview, Johar painted a clear picture:
“The biggest issue troubling the film industry today is the ‘herd mentality’… filmmakers are trying to copy what’s already worked instead of coming up with fresh and original ideas.”
He highlighted how Bollywood often jumps onto trends—whether a historical drama or horror-comedy becomes a hit, dozens of similar films follow. He summed it up, saying:
“If action works, you make action. If love stories work, you make love stories… conviction dies every week.”
This pattern undermines innovation and reinforces a cycle of repetitive content, preventing bold storytelling from flourishing.
Why Conviction Matters
Johar didn’t just criticize—he compared Bollywood to regional industries, particularly the South:
- Southern cinema, he observed, generally creates stories rooted in conviction rather than validation. Filmmakers there follow their vision rather than imitate box-office trends, which has resulted in breakout successes like Pushpa, RRR, and KGF.
- Hindi filmmakers, on the other hand, are often “victims of paid PR and herd mentality”, in Johar’s words.
“We are victims of everything we should be running away from … we don’t have the conviction.”
His point? Without conviction, Bollywood remains superficial—driven by campaigns and trends, not core storytelling.
Actors & Economics: The Multi-Star Problem
Johar also reflected on how creative instincts are being curbed by commercial pressures. He noted that assembling multi-starrers like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has become nearly impossible:
- Actor remuneration demands are “crazy” and unsustainable.
- With numerous advisors influencing every decision, actors hesitate to take unconventional risks.
This shift forces studios to play it safe, recycling old formulas—an implicit echo of the same herd behavior.
Industry Context: Is Bollywood in Crisis?
Most notably, Johar referenced a “creative crisis” sweeping through Hindi cinema:
“We are managing footfalls, star remuneration, studios collapsing … there’s a lot of drama … conviction has taken a complete beating.”
He stressed that filmmakers must reconnect with the “heartland audience”—viewers craving stories rooted in authenticity, not brand endorsements or metropolitan gloss.
From Copycat to Conviction: How to Break the Cycle
Johar offered implicit guidance for change:
- Champion conviction over convenience
Embrace stories with a unique vision rather than following recent box-office trends. - Value bravery over PR hype
Find the balance—use promotional tools sparingly, while focusing on substance-driven content. - Learn from the South
Look beyond Bollywood—South Indian cinema has built trust by sticking to its creative guns. - Accept economic realities—but don’t let them define art
Acknowledge rising costs and star power, but don’t handcuff creativity to spreadsheets.
Why This Moment Matters
Johar’s critique comes at a pivotal time:
- Post-pandemic, audiences are less forgiving of retakes and tired tropes.
- Breakout hits like Homebound from Dharma Productions—headed to Cannes—signal new possibilities.
- Bollywood needs an identity beyond grandeur: rooted in conviction, resonant with varied audiences.
Potential Road Ahead
Here’s what to watch next:
| Area | What Might Happen |
| Filmmaker Response | Will directors push to write original scripts rather than reboots/remakes? |
| Industry Shift | Will Bollywood invest in regional cinema producers, pan-India projects, or niche storytellers? |
| Audience Role | With rising OTT adoption, niche content may gain traction—and reward risk-takers. |
| Studios & Financing | Transparency around budgets and risk could encourage more innovation. |
Final Takeaway
Karan Johar’s wake-up call to Bollywood isn’t just critique—it’s a challenge. To stay culturally relevant and creatively vibrant, the industry must pivot from copying proven formulas to trusting original visions. Conviction over convenience.
Whether industry elite act on this depends on how widespread the sentiment becomes—and whether actors, studios, and financiers are ready to invest in stories that aren’t guaranteed wins.
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