# Bollywood stars flock to niche filmmakers as formula films fail 2026-08-20T08:15:57+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Alia Bhatt will appear in the next Tumbbad instalment with Sohum Shah, while Ranveer Singh has signed Pralay, a survival thriller directed by Jai Mehta (Scam 1992). Salman Khan is set for a superhero comedy from Raj & DK (The Family Man). These projects mark a growing trend: mainstream stars are ditching formulaic vehicles for experimental, lower-budget films by directors with niche digital followings. Recent star-vehicle failures, Alia Bhatt's Alpha (Rs 57.72 crore), Chand Mera Dil (Rs 27.78 crore), Shahid Kapoor's O'Romeo (Rs 59.90 crore), prove star power no longer guarantees box-office returns. Hits like Stree 2 and Munjya show audiences prefer rooted storytelling and genre franchises. Industry experts say niche filmmakers understand youth tastes better than established directors now. The challenge: a star's presence inflates budgets toward Rs 150 crore, forcing leaner creative choices and risking the franchise's original voice. Film producer Shariq Patel warned that when a star overpowers the project's identity, the result 'turns into no man's land.' ## Indian Opinion Analysis The shift marks a structural change in Bollywood's risk calculus. For years, star-driven films commanded 60-70% of a project's budget in fees alone, leaving little for writing, production design or marketing. The 2024-2026 run of big-budget disappointments has eroded the premium financiers once placed on a marquee name. Meanwhile, digital platforms have built a new talent pipeline: directors like Raj & DK and Jai Mehta developed fan bases on streaming before crossing to theatrical. The real test comes when these niche filmmakers handle a Rs 150-crore star budget without losing their creative edge. Watch which of these announced projects actually release by mid-2027, and whether the star takes a pay cut to keep the budget lean. ## Coverage - livemint.com Leads with industry trend rather than government angle, frames shift as market-driven without political commentary This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Alia Bhatt, Jai Mehta, Raj & DK, Ranveer Singh, Salman Khan, Tumbbad Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bollywood-stars-flock-to-niche-filmmakers-as-formula-films-fail/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bollywood-stars-flock-to-niche-filmmakers-as-formula-films-fail/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/