Director Vivek Agnihotri is gearing up to drop his new film, The Delhi Files – The Bengal Chapter. But he’s not holding back on his thoughts about Bollywood, sharing a lengthy note where he voices his frustration over the lack of ‘fresh ideas’ and new producers in the industry. He even went as far as to label the box office a ‘hoax office.’

Vivek's take on Bollywood

Vivek shared a post on his X account that kicked off with, “BOLLYWOOD IS FALLING — and it’s actually a good thing.”

He continued by saying, “Bollywood is in a tough spot, and that’s a positive for the industry. To build something new, you have to tear down the old. This is that moment. Right now, there are barely any independent producers left in Bollywood. No new talent. No fresh concepts. No creative marketing or distribution methods. A few years back, there were tons of studios — now we’re down to just a couple, and they’re more focused on profit than on making films. The love for cinema has been overshadowed by corporate interests and content driven by agendas.”

He also mentioned, “There’s a lack of new movies — which is why there’s a frenzy to re-release old ones. Many directors who could have made a real impact during these challenging times have thrown in the towel and turned to OTT platforms.”

He pointed out the lack of talent among actors these days, saying, “For the film industry to keep going, we really need star actors. But there just aren’t any new ones worth mentioning. If you’re looking for someone in the 21–35 age range, you’ll struggle to find any — no leading men or women. The few out there can’t act, don’t speak Hindi well, and seem more focused on their Instagram than honing their skills. Plus, they show up with a whole crew — managers, social media squads, trainers, and all that.”

The box office is basically a joke now

He talked about the box office issue, saying, “If you decide to cast lesser-known actors from modest backgrounds (like I do), you won’t get any funding, distribution, or marketing support. The box office, which used to be the ultimate measure of a film’s success, has turned into a joke. You can throw out any numbers, give away free tickets, set up corporate screenings, and mess with BookMyShow — it’s total chaos. Everyone’s shouting about box office stats, but their films lack substance.”

When it comes to film critics, he mentioned, “There aren’t any real critics or authentic film publications anymore. Anyone can pay to have anything written. It’s no surprise that Bollywood has taken the easy route: manipulation and corruption.”

He wrapped up by saying a fresh start is on the horizon, “The irony? The powerful ones who created this corrupt system are now acting like victims. The monster they’ve created is ready to consume them. And honestly, I’m glad. I hope it does. I hope it takes them down so they can come back as genuine filmmakers, not creators of chaos. The team behind The Delhi Files was made up of talented folks from small towns. Many of them will thrive and create amazing films — if this monster can wipe out the old, broken, and corrupt system. If you’re a young storyteller from a middle-class background ready to put in the work for your art — this is your moment. Yes, this is the moment. Let’s come together and build a new Hindi film industry. Otherwise, we might as well rename Bollywood to Instawood.”

Vivek's upcoming film, The Delhi Files, dives into the Hindu genocide and examines the lasting effects of political choices made in the 1940s in Bengal. Directed by Vivek Agnihotri and co-produced by Abhishek Agarwal and Pallavi Joshi, the film features Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Govind Namdev in significant roles. It’s set to hit theaters on August 15, 2025.

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