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Bollywood's 2025 pivot: hypermasculine blockbusters overshadow women-led cinema
After a brief surge of global acclaim for female-directed narratives in 2024, India's film industry reverted to male-dominated action spectacles in 2025, reshaping box-office trends and cultural conversations.
The year of the macho hero
The espionage thriller Dhurandhar, set against India-Pakistan tensions, became 2025's defining hit. Its graphic violence and gangland politics mirrored a broader trend: aggressive, hypermasculine films dominated the top 10 box-office charts. Five of these were Bollywood productions, offering a rare bright spot for an industry still recovering from pandemic losses.
Historical epics like Chhaava and action spectacles such as War 2 reinforced the pattern. The sole exception was Lokah, a Malayalam-language superhero film led by a woman. Even romance blockbusters like Saiyaara centered on troubled male protagonists, with female characters often relegated to supportive roles.
A stark contrast to 2024
The previous year had marked a turning point. Films like Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light, Shuchi Talati's Girls Will Be Girls, and Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies earned international praise, proving Indian women filmmakers could lead global conversations.
"What 2024 established was that Indian women filmmakers are not marginal voices, but leading global ones. It was a moment of truth, not just a trend."
Mayank Shekhar, film critic
Hopes for sustained growth in women-led storytelling faded in 2025, as male-driven narratives reclaimed dominance.
Controversial hits and industry dynamics
Tere Ishk Mein, featuring an volatile male lead and a high-achieving woman whose ambitions are sidelined, sparked debates over toxic masculinity. Yet, it became actor Dhanush's highest-grossing Hindi release, earning over ₹1,550 million ($17.26 million). Similarly, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat centered on an obsessive male protagonist, reinforcing the trend.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh argued the shift reflects audience demand, citing male-led classics like Mother India and Pakeezah. "The only verdict that matters is that of the audience," he said. Critics, however, see deeper structural issues.
Streaming platforms follow suit
Once seen as havens for women-centric stories, streaming platforms now mirror theatrical trends. A 2025 report by Ormax Media found that 43% of 338 Hindi streaming shows were male-led action or crime thrillers, while female-led narratives dropped from 31% in 2022 to 12%.
"At some point, OTT platforms began chasing box-office logic. Streaming now mirrors theatrical trends instead of challenging them."
Mayank Shekhar
Economic realities and cultural resistance
Producers and distributors prioritize bankable male stars, limiting opportunities for independent and women-led films. Screenwriter Atika Chohan described the current era as one of "performative, exaggerated misogyny," partly a backlash to the MeToo movement's demands for accountability.
"As long as these [hypermasculine] films make money, they aren't going anywhere," she said. Yet, smaller regional industries and independent filmmakers offer glimmers of hope.
Quiet resistance from the margins
Films like Sabar Bonda and Songs of Forgotten Trees explored complex social themes, while The Girlfriend (Telugu) and Bad Girl (Tamil) centered women's perspectives. Malayalam cinema's Feminichi Fathima used humor to depict a housewife's rebellion against patriarchy, and streaming series like The Great Shamsuddin Family highlighted Muslim women's resilience.
"It's a quieter movement, working from the margins. And it isn't going to disappear."
Anu Singh Choudhary, co-writer of Delhi Crime 3
