Home / Arts and Entertainment / Bollywood's Masculine Echo: 2025's Box Office Roar
Bollywood's Masculine Echo: 2025's Box Office Roar
3 Jan
Summary
- 2025 saw a surge in violent, male-driven action thrillers dominating Bollywood.
- This trend contrasted with 2024's global acclaim for women-led Indian films.
- Only one woman-led film, a Malayalam superhero movie, made the top 10.
The Indian film industry in 2025 experienced a notable return to its traditional blockbuster formula, characterized by violent, male-driven action thrillers. This trend culminated in films like the espionage thriller 'Dhurandhar' dominating domestic box office and cultural conversations. The year's top 10 hits, primarily from Bollywood, featured larger-than-life male heroes in various genres.
This resurgence of masculine narratives stood in stark contrast to 2024, when films like 'All We Imagine As Light' and 'Laapataa Ladies,' directed by women, garnered significant international praise and attention. These 2024 successes had fostered hope for a continued rise in richer, more diverse stories centered on women.
However, 2025 saw even romance and mythical spectacles reinforcing traditional male heroism. The singular exception in the top 10 was the Malayalam-language superhero film 'Lokah,' highlighting the overall male dominance that defined popular discourse and box office success.
