‘They fail the memory test’: Director Dhwani Gautam reveals why today’s blockbusters like ‘Jawan’ and ‘Singham Again’ fade away fast – Exclusive |

Every year, Bollywood releases films that open up with significant buzz, promotions and are expected to attain record numbers. Fans celebrate the films, and memes flood social media along with box office numbers touching the sky. But just one year later, many of these films are barely talked about. Films like ‘Pathaan,’ ‘Jawan,’ ‘Singham Again,’ and ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ show this new trend clearly.Hype is bigger than the storyMost recent blockbusters depend heavily on star power and loud action. ‘Pathaan’ brought Shah Rukh Khan back in style and crossed Rs 1,000 crore. But the story felt familiar and simple. Once the excitement faded, people had little reason to rewatch it. Big stunts cannot hide weak emotions for long. ‘Pathan’ might be an enjoyable one-time watch in theaters with a huge crowd, but will it stay forever in our minds? No.

Mass films feel like one-time watches

‘Jawan’ created a massive buzz with Shah Rukh Khan in a double role and strong visuals. The film earned hugely at the box office within days of its release. But its dramatic twists and heavy style felt like too much for repeat viewing, and also the majority of those scenes were copies from Atlee’s Tamil films themselves, offering nothing new for the audiences. We all feel it’s a fun watch, but not memorable enough to stay.

Sequels without fresh ideas

‘Singham Again’ and ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ earned well because people already knew the characters. But both films were criticized for their long runtime, predictable scenes, and weak writing. On OTT, viewers called them boring. Old formulas no longer excite modern audiences. Coming to the case of ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa,’ the core idea, provided by Mollywood’s ‘Manichitrathazhu,’ was stretched too far, losing its essence.

OTT platforms have changed habits

Today, films reach streaming platforms very fast. What once felt like a theater event now becomes just another option on a screen. With endless choices, viewers move on quickly. There is no time for films to grow slowly in people’s hearts like older classics did. Director Dhwani Gautam who has chaired films like ‘Hoon Tari Heer’, ‘Daayro’, ‘Shubh Saanj’, ‘Vaanki Chuki Love Story’ and more has opened up on this subject and spilled the beans exclusively with us, “Today’s blockbusters don’t fail at the box office they fail the memory test. Built on hype, they shine brightly and vanish quickly. Modern blockbusters are engineered for the first weekend, not for posterity and that is why they fade before they can become hits. Star power still guarantees a strong opening, but without emotional depth or originality, today’s blockbusters fall once the buzz goes down.”