As Heroes wilt producers bolster challenge for B’town
It’s a fortifying era for the Hindi film industry, as independent producers rise by collaborating based on their skills.
With escalating theatre footfalls and encouraging box office performances, producers are optimistic. New funding avenues and strategic partnerships are driving fresh narratives, notwithstanding the significant role of traditional studios remaining intact.
At a time when confidence to bankroll fresh films is low and the pool of film financing diminishes, the Hindi film industry is a witness to a gradual increase in independent film producers sans the backing of studios who are collaborating based on their skills and core competencies to make films.
Hansal Mehta, acknowledged for films such as Shahid Citylights and Aligarh along with his partner Sahil Saigal, launched a production house –
True Story Films which has received investments aided by passion and are open for skilful, strategic collaborations are needed more now than ever. They are seeing more independent producers collaborating with each other based on their synergies.
Producers seek funding through various routes. These include collaborating with studios, selling rights – digital, music, overseas dubbing and satellite – bank loans (interest rates are as high as 12%) and private financing (two times the bank rates). They also raise funds from long-term private equity investors by offering stakes in their production companies, wealthy individuals and even friends.
Following the pandemic, independent producers suffered huge losses as the economics of making Hindi films transformed
significantly. But in recent years, two favourable developments have provided renewed confidence for them.
One is the enhancing footfalls in theatres, as indicated by the huge success of the Hindi-dubbed Pushpa 2 and the performance of the Sky Force. The other development that these producers consider encouraging is streamers using box office performance as the sole yardstick to buy films.
As per Girish Johar, producer and film business expert, the sentiment in the industry is seeing a transformation.Footfalls in theatres are improving. Lately released films have shown reasonably good performance.Adding that facts have provided confidence to independent producers passionate on their stories for collaboration. collaborate.He sees more synergetic collaborations amid independent producers.
Sector experts are of the view that increasing collaborations among independent producers will start bearing fruit in terms of new releases in 2026 as films will go on the floors in 2025.
According to Karmic Films co-founder and director Suniel Wadhwa this is is an era of coexistence. Today, independent producers are no longer solely dependent on traditional studios to greenlight projects. With evolving audience preferences, new funding avenues, and technological advancements, independent producers are driving fresh narratives and innovative business models while still working alongside studios to maximise scale and reach.”
Adding, albeit the rise of independent producers is reshaping the industry, studios still remain an integral part of the production ecosystem.
In a year, a studio makes four to five Hindi films. Annualy, some 400-500 Hindi films are produced annually. This shows that there is tremendous potential for independent producers to collaborate and make films.
News Edit KV Raman
