Dear Bollywood,

As we prepare to embrace 2025, it’s time to have a heart-to-heart about what we, your loyal fans, want to see in the coming year. We’ve laughed, cried, danced, and fallen in love with you a million times over. But let’s face it, 2024 was a letdown in more ways than one. So, here we are, telling you in all honesty what kind of Bollywood movies we want in 2025 because you’ve got the talent, the magic, and the influence to make it happen.  

Send the right films to the Oscars 

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Bollywood, we adore you, but can we please be more strategic about representing ourselves on the global stage? Laapata Ladies was great, but All We Imagine As Light had more potential to win and you know that. With the buzz that AWIAL has made internationally, it had a better chance of getting shortlisted. Think of it as India’s cinematic mic drop—poised, powerful, and unforgettable.  

Better female characters and narratives

2025 should be the year Bollywood stops reducing ambitious female leads to mere love interests. Give us more Piku-like heroines – relatable, flawed, and endearing. Or better yet, bring us something totally new. We want stories where women own the narrative, not just support it, like Girls Will Be Girls. 

Related: From Girlboss To Side Piece: How Bollywood Turns Ambitious Women Into A Prop

Can we have more films like Andhadhun or NH10? These gems proved Bollywood can think outside the box and the man doesn’t have to be the saviour all the damn time. In 2025, we want more diverse movies, Bollywood. Explore more genres – psychological thrillers, dystopian dramas, and experimental indies that challenge us to think differently.  

Spotlight real India

While we love the glitzy Manali mansions and exotic Swiss locales, what about the stories rooted in real India? Films like Masaan and The Lunchbox brought the everyday struggles of ordinary people to life, and we’re craving more of that authenticity. Let’s explore the streets of small towns and the stories of their people. Every nook and cranny of India has a story waiting to be told, don’t let it go unheard. 2025 should be the year we see more films that uplift the underdog. Stories like Chhichhore and Iqbal resonate because they remind us that dreams are worth chasing. Give us characters who stumble, fall, and rise again but not like a superstar.

Elevate comedy beyond slapstick  

Comedy has the power to heal, but let’s raise the bar. Remember the cleverness of Hera Pheri or the subtle humour of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro? We need more films that make us laugh without resorting to tired clichés or crass jokes. Smart, witty comedies for a modern audience – that’s the dream.

When we mention these classics, don’t re-release or remake them. Remakes and re-releases have their place, but let’s not overdo it. We love the nostalgia they bring but instead of cashing in on that, let’s make more stories that offer the same relatability and catharsis.

Related: Re-Releasing Of Bollywood Classics: Is The Film Industry Cashing In On Nostalgia Or Hiding A Creativity Crisis?

And, please don’t use LGBTQ+ characters just for ‘comic relief’. Bollywood has the power to shape cultural perceptions. It’s time to embrace diversity wholeheartedly. Films like Kapoor & Sons broke ground with their portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters, but we need more inclusivity in every sense, be it caste, gender, or regional identity. Let’s tell stories that reflect the richness of our country.  

Bollywood, you are more than just an industry. You’re a feeling, a celebration, and, for many of us, a way of life. 2025 is your chance to elevate, inspire, and surprise us. We’re rooting for you to shine brighter than ever and maybe even bring home that elusive Oscar.  

With love,  

Your Forever Fans