Azaad’s failure highlights Bollywood’s new reality: Star kids can no longer rely on lineage alone; it has to be content over connections : Bollywood News

January 21, 20255 Mins Read

Despite featuring newcomers from prominent film families, Azaad has failed to garner even a modest opening at the box office. The film stars Rasha Thadani, daughter of Bollywood icon Raveena Tandon, and Aaman Devgan, nephew of superstar Ajay Devgan. With such illustrious connections, one expected the film to generate a substantial buzz. Yet, its lacklustre performance at the box office reflects a deeper challenge facing the industry today. The movie collected approx. Rs. 4.05 cr. over the weekend and crashed to 60 lakhs on the first Monday.

Azaad's failure highlights Bollywood's new reality: Star kids can no longer rely on lineage alone; it has to be content over connections

Azaad’s failure highlights Bollywood’s new reality: Star kids can no longer rely on lineage alone; it has to be content over connections

The era of content-driven cinema has disrupted Bollywood’s traditional reliance on star power and familial connections. While lineage once guaranteed curiosity and footfalls, today’s discerning audiences prioritize compelling narratives and innovative storytelling. For Azaad, a film that primarily banked on introducing star kids, the absence of these essential elements appears to have been a fatal flaw. In a time when even projects with big stars occasionally struggle to attract audiences, the challenge for debutants becomes even more pronounced. Audiences today demand more than just lineage. The content-driven era of Bollywood has shifted focus from star power to storytelling and innovation.

Another factor to consider is the marketing strategy. Did Azaad create enough intrigue prior to its release? With new faces, the promotional efforts need to go above and beyond to capture public interest. While Rasha Thadani and Aaman Devgan may have received moderate media coverage, it likely wasn’t enough to convince audiences to buy tickets. The importance of leveraging digital platforms, engaging content campaigns, and relatable narratives cannot be understated when launching newcomers.

Veteran trade analyst Taran Adarsh, in an exclusive chat with Bollywood Hungama, agreed that content plays a major role and merely launching two newcomers isn’t enough. “The writing was the weakest part of Azaad,” he said. “It was lacklustre. There must be some drama or ups and downs to keep you engaged. But in this film, there was nothing. The first half was completely lifeless. In the middle of the second half, the drama actually begins to show face. And the climax was very interesting. The last 20-25 minutes are fantastic because of the race. But by the time you reach the climax, you are so exhausted and bored. I told this to the director and producer also that it doesn’t work because the script is the biggest culprit here.”

Adarsh also believes that when a guy and a girl are launched opposite each other as lovers, their romance needs to be felt on screen. “If you feel there was some romance between the hero and heroine, it was muted completely. And the track between Ajay Devgn and Diana Penty had to be fleshed out more. Even the track about Mohit Malik is half-baked. He just comes and goes,” he said.

Azaad's failure highlights Bollywood's new reality: Star kids can no longer rely on lineage alone; it has to be content over connections

The industry needs to rethink its approach to launching newcomers. Banking solely on familial connections is no longer a guaranteed formula for success. Instead, debut films should focus on crafting strong narratives, relatable characters, and innovative marketing campaigns. Additionally, introducing newcomers in ensemble casts alongside seasoned actors can help strike a balance and draw audiences. However, exploiting senior actors purely to prop up newcomers is counterproductive unless their characters are integral to the story.

Speaking about a senior actor like Ajay Devgn being cast in Azaad, Adarsh said, “You have done the padding of the newcomers with Ajay Devgn, who is there in the first half. I am not denying that. For me, the hero of the film is the horse, who is done very well. The emotions between the horse with Ajay Devgn and Aaman Devgan have come out really well. But these types of films need to have the support of a lot of mass ingredients. The debutants have done decent. Aaman Devgan is very sincere and Rasha is very confident. But I feel they deserved a better deal in terms of writing.”

Azaad’s underwhelming box office performance serves as a reminder of the shifting dynamics in Bollywood. Today’s audience seeks authenticity, innovation, and value for money. As the industry evolves, it must adapt to these changes to successfully introduce the next generation of talent. Rasha Thadani and Aaman Devgan may have missed the mark with Azaad, but with the right projects and strategies, they still have the potential to carve their niche in Bollywood.

Also Read: Azaad: Abhishek Kapoor pens emotional note saying, “Sapne hit ya flop nahi hote” as he drops UNSEEN BTS pics from the film