The Indian film industry has often copied plots and themes from the American film industry but has failed to capture the same boldness and political conviction as its American counterpart. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently posed with a selfie camera for ‘Selfie of the Year’ in New Delhi, where many Bollywood stars, including Karan Johar, gathered for the photo. This is a rare example of Bollywood speaking truth to power.
Bollywood actors have also appeared in Hollywood films. The Oscars paid tribute to Om Puri for his work in the films My Son the Fanatic and The Ghost and the Darkness. He is among the few Indians who have acted in acclaimed Western films. Other prominent Bollywood stars including Deepika Padukone, Nawazuddin Siddique, Irfan Khan, and Ranbir Kapoor have made their Hollywood debuts. Alia Bhatt’s debut in Hollywood is imminent and she will be seen in Netflix spy thriller Heart of Stone.
The popularity of big-budget Hollywood films in India is reflected in the fact that Indian moviegoers are increasingly choosing to watch international films. Recent blockbusters, such as Spiderman, Avengers Age of Ultron, Jurassic World, and Furious 7, have all exceeded one hundred crore rupees in India. As a result, exhibitors are adding screens to show these films. Hollywood films in India are available in English with subtitles, Hindi dubbed versions, and regional versions.
Hollywood movies continue to rise in popularity in India. In 2015, Hindi films held a 60-65% share of the domestic box office in India. However, that share has now dropped to 45%. Despite its high quality, Bollywood still has a long way to go in the VFX department. The growth in popularity of American films has led to a massive market for subtitled content, particularly American movies.
Films made in India can be categorized into three main categories: Bollywood films, independent movies, and Bollywood-based movies. Bollywood movies are produced by producers like Raj Kapoor, Subhash Ghai, and Anurag Kashya. The success of an Indian film depends on the positive reception by its audience. If the film receives positive reviews, then it is likely to be a hit in China.
Bollywood films are popular in China, with many attracting large audiences. However, China remains a difficult market for Hollywood movies in the country due to its diverse culture. Chinese audiences are used to seeing movies that are made in mainstream languages, such as English. While this may be an advantage for Indian filmmakers, the challenge for Bollywood films in China is overcoming cultural prejudice. Many of the participants in the study disagreed with the values of Bollywood films.
