Kareena Kapoor Khan has spoken candidly about what she sees as one of Bollywood’s recurring habits: quickly chasing a formula after a film becomes successful.
In a recent conversation, the actor discussed the changing relationship between filmmakers and audiences, arguing that viewers are increasingly willing to reject repetitive storytelling. She also pointed to the industry’s tendency to follow box-office trends, using the success of Animal as an example of how one popular formula can inspire a wave of similar projects.
Kareena Kapoor Says Bollywood Often Follows Trends
Kareena believes filmmakers sometimes become too focused on reproducing the elements that worked in a recent hit rather than developing stories on their own terms.
Speaking about the changing preferences of moviegoers, she said that audiences are more discerning than the industry may assume.
“Our audience is smarter than we think. They know exactly when it’s a good film and they want to watch it,” Kareena said.
She then addressed the tendency to imitate successful genres and themes, referring specifically to the impact of Animal, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s 2023 action drama.
“Today it is not just about a young love story. All these things are very dated, ki abhi violence chal rahi hai… ki abhi Animal chal gayi toh chalo sab violence kar lete hai. We are herd mentality, what to say?” she remarked.
Her comment highlights a larger debate within the Hindi film industry: whether commercial success should influence storytelling choices or whether filmmakers should prioritise narratives that have their own identity.
‘Animal’ Became an Example of a Larger Industry Trend
Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol, Animal became one of the biggest Hindi-language theatrical successes of 2023. Its intense action, violent world and controversial portrayal of masculinity generated significant discussion alongside its box-office performance.
Kareena’s point, however, was less about criticising one particular film and more about questioning the industry’s tendency to copy successful formulas.
A film becoming a hit does not necessarily mean that the same storytelling approach will work repeatedly. Audiences can respond differently when similar themes begin appearing across multiple releases.
Kareena Says Audiences Are Making More Informed Choices
Despite her criticism of the industry’s tendency to follow trends, Kareena sounded optimistic about the direction in which cinema is moving.
She acknowledged that several filmmakers are choosing to create distinctive stories rather than simply reproduce popular formulas.
“There are filmmakers who want to make something different, who provoke your thoughts and who have their own fan following. I feel like things are changing now,” she said.
According to Kareena, trailers and promotional material are also playing an increasingly important role in helping audiences decide what they want to watch.
“The audience will now watch the trailer and say that we want to watch this film,” she added.
That shift gives filmmakers an opportunity to build interest through original concepts instead of relying solely on established formulas or star power.
Kareena Kapoor’s Next Film Is ‘Daayra’
Kareena’s comments arrive as she prepares for the release of Daayra, a crime thriller directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Meghna Gulzar.
The film features Kareena alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran and is inspired by true events. Kareena plays a police officer involved in a challenging investigation, taking her into another serious and dramatic role.
Daayra is scheduled to release in theatres on September 18.
Why Kareena’s Comments Matter
Bollywood has repeatedly seen successful genres generate imitators. Romantic dramas, action entertainers, crime stories and franchise films have all experienced periods when multiple projects appeared to pursue similar audience interests.
Kareena’s observation raises a broader question about whether the industry should follow what is currently working or invest in stories that could establish the next trend.
Ultimately, audiences decide which films succeed. If viewers continue to seek distinctive characters, strong writing and fresh ideas, filmmakers may have less incentive to simply reproduce the latest box-office formula.
