Hollywood’s ‘Conjuring’ Conjures Cash: Are Bollywood’s Horror Days Numbered?

The glitz of Bollywood often obscures the brutal realities of box office failure. From a perch far removed from Mumbai’s studios, somewhere in Vietnam, the scent of cinematic disaster still manages to waft in. This week, the post-mortem centers on two films that promised much and delivered little: ‘Baaghi 4’ and ‘The Bengal Files,’ alongside the surprising triumph of a Hollywood horror flick.

‘Baaghi 4,’ touted as the next chapter in Tiger Shroff’s action saga, crash-landed despite a decent opening. Insiders whisper of inflated numbers, suggesting that nearly half of the opening day collections were due to strategic block bookings—a desperate attempt to mask the film’s inevitable slide. By Monday, the facade crumbled, revealing a mere trickle of earnings. Tiger’s desperate promotional stunts—bare-chested appearances at single-screen theaters—reeked of desperation, not celebration. The film’s failure isn’t just a career setback for Shroff; it’s a glaring indictment of the industry’s reliance on tired formulas and star power over substance. Has Tiger Shroff lost his stripes? The audience has spoken, and their verdict is damning.

Then there’s ‘The Bengal Files,’ Vivek Agnihotri’s ambitious follow-up to ‘The Kashmir Files.’ While the trailer promised a searing exposé, the film failed to connect with audiences. Sources suggest a combination of factors contributed to its downfall: a regional focus that limited its appeal, a lack of critical support, and alleged unofficial bans in West Bengal. The film’s extended runtime didn’t help matters, with whispers suggesting Agnihotri’s refusal to trim the excess baggage led to its box office demise. Was this another case of the filmmaker’s own hubris overshadowing the story?

Amidst these Bollywood disappointments, Hollywood’s ‘Conjuring’ franchise quietly raked in the moolah. With minimal promotion and zero fake bookings, the horror film surpassed the combined earnings of ‘Baaghi 4’ and ‘The Bengal Files.’ This isn’t just a win for Hollywood; it’s a wake-up call for Bollywood. It underscores the audience’s appetite for well-crafted genre films, a space where Bollywood has consistently fumbled. Are Indian horror films trapped in a creative abyss?

What’s the real takeaway from this box office bloodbath? Stop throwing ludicrous sums of money at mediocre projects with stars who can’t guarantee returns. The industry needs to reassess its obsession with star power and invest in compelling stories. Budgets need to be slashed, and actors need to understand their market value. The era of inflated egos and exorbitant fees must end if Bollywood wants to survive.

Are Bollywood filmmakers finally ready to confront reality, or will they continue to cling to outdated formulas and self-delusion?