• Source:JND
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Bollywood has seen many trends over the years but the 'remake' trend is the most prominent one. From recreating old classic songs to remaking movies from other industries, this trend has taken over Hindi cinema over the years.

However, the excess remakes have made the audience question the creative decisions of Bollywood. But for the past two years, Bollywood is seeing a shift in this trend as many remakes like Jersey, and Shehzada, among others, did not work at the box office. So is the 'Bollywood remake' trend finally coming to an end and why?

The Rise Of OTT:

The OTT platforms have completely changed the cinema viewing experience for the audience. You can watch films from any part of the world on your phone screen. Because of the OTT platforms, the audience has the excess to watch films from different industries and in different languages.

Before the OTT came into the picture, the Hindi-speaking audience had less excess to movies from different industries. The excess to the South Indian films was mostly limited to their Hindi dubbed versions which mostly aired on television. Therefore, it was easier for Bollywood production houses to remake films from different industries and make profits from them. Blockbuster movies like Bodyguard, Wanted, Tere Naam and Bhool Bhulaiyaa were remade as well.

Box Office Failures Of Remakes:

Except for Drishyam 2, most of the remakes made in 2022 flopped at the box office including -- Laal Singh Chaddha, Dobaara, Jersey, Hit: The First Case, Bachchhan Paanday, Nikamma, Mili, Vikram Vedha, Tadap, etc. Most of these films had superstars and bankable actors like Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar. However, it can be said that 2022 was a bad year for Bollywood films as only a few of them were able to attract the audience back to the theatres.

But, in 2023, Bollywood was back in the game with Pathaan as Shah Rukh Khan returned to the big screen after four years. Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer 'Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar' was also a box office success so it cannot be said that the audience doesn't want to watch movies in theatres.

The audience is over the remake trends and it was seen again with Selfiee and Shehzada's failure.

Is Bollywood Over The Remake Trend?

Even though Bollywood remakes have not been profitable at the box office but the makers are still investing in them. Bholaa, starring Ajay Devgn and Tabu, will hit the theatres on March 31 and it is a remake of the hit Tamil film 'Kaithi'. Moreover, it has been reported that the Hindi remake 'Love Today' is also in development. Akshay Kumar has also announced the Hindi remake of the hit Tamil film 'Soorarai Pottru'.

Despite the Bollywood producers giving green light to the remakes, seems like the audience is over the remake trend and is asking for something new.