Shifts in audience tastes, tech developments, and the market influenced Indian cinema to mould its strategy regarding the box office throughout the years. The focus for a long time was on big-budget films with star power. However, recent trends show a significant increase in content diversity, with filmmakers focusing on unique narratives that audiences from both mass and class will appreciate.

Marking large-scale production as the sole requirement for a film to succeed is outdated, and films nowadays require effective marketing, distribution, and a clear understanding of how the audience’s tastes are evolving. Strategic marketing and even partnerships with streaming services are now crucial to reaching wider audiences and increasing box office revenue. Social media and various influencers are now actively used to promote the film before its official launch.

With the increased use of streaming platforms, the traditional way of watching cinema has come under a lot of threat, and more people prefer the ease of accessing home films. Cinema operators have had to respond with new strategies, from offering coupons for discounted weekday tickets to enhancing the in-movie experience through more immersive technologies and multi-dimensional viewing options.

There is also a growing trend in developing multi-language pan-Indian movies aimed at a broader market. Baahubali 2, for instance, is a compelling case study demonstrating how movies in India can earn better revenue if released in various languages globally. There is evidence that such an approach works.

Nevertheless, issues such as piracy, ever-changing tastes and preferences of the audience, and competition from foreign films are obstacles the industry will have to deal with. The industry must embrace change in content, advertisement, and audience participation to perform well at the box office.