Taran Adarsh: Content Still Beats Star Power in Bollywood

Veteran trade analyst Taran Adarsh isn’t known for sugar-coating his verdicts, and his latest sit-down with Rohit Khilnani for Bollywood Hungama gives Hindi film fans a clear-eyed scorecard of the year. From the films that earned a rare standing ovation to the big-ticket releases that looked better than they read, the conversation is a reminder of what actually moves audiences.

The films that won him over

Adarsh starts on a high, praising Drishyam – The Conclusion for its actors, performances and the kind of scenes that stay with viewers after the credits roll. He also reveals the two films that made him rise to his feet this year: Drishyam – The Conclusion and Dhurandhar. For a critic who has tracked thousands of releases, that ovation list is deliberately short.

Content first, stars second

The bigger argument is about what drives a film in today’s market. Discussing Mirzapur: The Movie and the challenge of moving a successful OTT franchise to the big screen, Adarsh stresses that scenes, dialogues, storylines and songs ultimately matter more than star power. It is the same reason Munjya worked commercially and why Hanuman Ansh is an example of an audience discovering and embracing a film over time.

Where the big-screen bets stumble

That lens makes his assessment of Toxic and Alpha especially useful. He praises Yash’s performance, the visuals and the cast work in Toxic, particularly Kiara Advani, but says the writing did not translate effectively to the big screen. Similarly, Alpha’s visual execution and Alia Bhatt’s skill as an actor are not enough when the storytelling doesn’t land. Films like Daayra may have merit but still fail to connect commercially, which is the gap between craft and connection.

Negativity is now part of the box office

Adarsh also addresses the conversation around films before they release. Negativity on social media, he says, can shape audience perception and affect performance. He pushes back on the habit of writing off actors after just two or three unsuccessful films, calling much of the negativity around cinema unnecessary.

How film fans can watch smarter

• Look for a film’s writing and songs, not only the lead actor on the poster.
• Give word-of-mouth releases such as Munjya and Hanuman Ansh time to find their audience.
• Treat early social-media noise as one input, not the final verdict.
• Avoid writing off actors after a couple of misses; careers are longer than a few Fridays.

The conversation is less about ranking films and more about resetting expectations: when the story works, the audience finds it. When it doesn’t, even the biggest names struggle to paper over the cracks.

Source: bollywoodHungama.com