Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta has expressed surprise after Hollywood horror film The Conjuring: Last Rites outperformed Tiger Shroff’s action drama Baaghi 4 on its opening day in India.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the Kaante director wrote:
“Me in my 20’s/30’s could never imagine an English film outperforming a Hindi film. Today’s reality – An English horror film does double the business of a mainstream Hindi action film. What changed???”
Netizens were quick to respond, with many pointing to the declining quality of Bollywood scripts and an over-reliance on star fees, VFX, and PR campaigns.
One user commented, “Hindi movies have lost their emotional quotient. Producers spend on actors and locations but don’t invest in good writing.”
Another wrote, “If Baaghi 4’s content and promos had connected with the audience, it would’ve opened stronger. Meanwhile, The Conjuring is a well-established franchise promoted as the final chapter — bound to open big.”
Gupta had earlier remarked that Hollywood delivers a steady pipeline of action films, while “some of our best action stars are sitting at home clutching unrealistic numbers.”
At the box office, Baaghi 4 opened with ₹12 crore, whereas The Conjuring: Last Rites earned ₹17.5 crore on day one in India.
