Bollywood's dark past is threatening to return
Financial Express Pune|December 28, 2024
DISASTER. FLOP. AVERAGE. If you had to bet on a Bollywood movie's fate in 2024, those would have been your three best options in a year set to end with a 30-40% drop in box-office collections.
Bloomberg

The world's most prolific film industry is desperately hoping for a better 2025. And so are the city's cops: When the theatres go empty, the body count starts to rise on the streets of Mumbai. That's what the 1990s were like — and everyone's dreading a repeat of lawlessness in India's financial capital.

The fears are far from exaggerated. Baba Siddique, a local politician and real-estate developer who enjoyed close friendships with celebrity actors, was gunned down in October as he was about to get into his car. A member of the gang that claimed responsibility said in a Facebook post that "Bollywood, politics, and property dealings" were behind the murder.

Organised crime and the show business of Bombay — as the megalopolis was known until 1995 — have been joined at the hip for a long time. The Golden Age of Indian Cinema that began around the country's 1947 independence from British rule had a 20-year run. Politics took a cynical turn in the late 1960s, and popular culture began to reflect the loss of idealism. Bollywood scripts shed the social concerns of a young republic and became the escapist fantasy the world knows today.

This story is from the December 28, 2024 edition of Financial Express Pune.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 28, 2024 edition of Financial Express Pune.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FINANCIAL EXPRESS PUNEView All
Financial Express Pune

Microsoft to spend $80 billion on AI data centers this year

MICROSOFT CORP PLANS to spend $80 billion this fiscal year building out data centers, underscoring the intense capital requirements of artificial intelligence.

time-read
1 min  |
January 05, 2025
Financial Express Pune

Mike Johnson Re-elected US House Speaker

Republican Congressman Mike Johnson on Friday was re-elected as Speaker of the US House of Representatives with a narrow victory margin of three votes.

time-read
1 min  |
January 05, 2025
Financial Express Pune

Rohit clears the air: Not going anywhere

Says those on outside can't influence when he stops playing

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Financial Express Pune

S Korea investigators ask acting prez to clear way for Yoon's arrest

SOUTH KOREAN INVESTIGATORS again asked the country's acting president on Saturday to order the presidential security service to comply with an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.

time-read
1 min  |
January 05, 2025
Financial Express Pune

Border-Gavaskar Trophy: As Bumrah leaves, 'captain' Kohli calls the shots

Kohli took charge after Bumrah left bowling due to spasm

time-read
3 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Financial Express Pune

No jail time for Trump, suggests judge in US hush money case

Will keep fighting, says communications director Cheung

time-read
1 min  |
January 05, 2025
Financial Express Pune

Big rockets, a telescope & big changes in space await in 2025

Some key events to look forward to in space & astronomy

time-read
4 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Financial Express Pune

The Fall season

Fun and games for the elite players, the Fall Series gave the fans plenty to watch

time-read
4 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Financial Express Pune

Worrying signs from the Arctic

Scientists say fires in the region could have major consequences

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Financial Express Pune

Dr Manmohan Singh, RIP

emissary he had deployed. Although sceptical, I bounded off to North Block and was ushered in. It was my first official meeting with the FM. I conveyed the request, not a direction, of the prime minister. Dr Singh was puzzled — I could see that on his face — by the message or, perhaps, the messenger. He listened politely and told me that the second step had already been taken within minutes of the markets opening at 10 am.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 05, 2025