While Baaghi 4 struggled to impress at the box office, The Conjuring: Last Rites soared ahead, leaving filmmaker Sanjay Gupta questioning the changing tastes of Indian audiences.
Published: September 6, 2025 9:06 PM IST
Friday witnessed the theatrical release of two much-talked-about films, Bollywood’s Baaghi 4 and Hollywood’s The Conjuring: Last Rites. While expectations were high for the Tiger Shroff starrer, it was the Hollywood horror film that came out on top. The stark difference in performance has sparked discussions in the industry, with filmmaker Sanjay Gupta voicing his concerns.
What did Sanjay Gupta say?
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Sanjay Gupta expressed his disbelief at the shift in audience preferences. He wrote, “Me, in my 20s/30s, could never imagine an English film outperforming a Hindi film. Today’s reality – An English horror film does double the business of a mainstream Hindi action film. What changed???”
Such a steady flow of action films from the west. Almost feels like it is synchronised.
And some of our best action stars are sitting at home clutching unrealistic numbers.
Audience, makers, stars – Everyone loses in this scenario.— Sanjay Gupta (@_SanjayGupta) September 5, 2025
In another post, he highlighted the continuous flow of action-packed films from Hollywood, suggesting that their releases often appear synchronised. He remarked, “Such a steady flow of action films from the West. Almost feels like it is synchronised. And some of our best action stars are sitting at home clutching unrealistic numbers. Audience, makers, stars – Everyone loses in this scenario.”
Why the frustration over ticketing schemes?
Sanjay also criticised the heavy reliance on discount schemes for Indian big-budget films. For Baaghi 4, the makers introduced a “Buy One Get One Free” or 50% off ticket offer on its opening day, hoping to attract larger footfalls. However, Gupta questioned the sustainability of such strategies, stating, “Big Budget. Big Producer. Big Star. First Friday. One Plus One Free. What times are we living in? Why even make films?”
The numbers tell the story
Despite Tiger Shroff’s popularity and Sajid Nadiadwala’s production backing, Baaghi 4 managed to collect only Rs 12 crore on its opening day. Directed by A Harsha, the film was marketed as a high-octane action entertainer but failed to strike a chord with audiences.
On the other hand, The Conjuring: Last Rites, billed as the final chapter in the iconic horror franchise, earned Rs 17.5 crore on day one in India. Starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, the film not only benefited from franchise loyalty but also showcased the growing appetite of Indian audiences for international horror films.
A wake-up call for Bollywood?
The contrasting fortunes of these two films highlight an uncomfortable truth, Bollywood action films may be losing ground to Hollywood’s consistent storytelling and scale. For filmmakers like Sanjay Gupta, this clash is not just about numbers but about the very survival of Hindi cinema’s mainstream formats.
