Once upon a time, Bollywood wasn’t afraid to dream big. In the 1960s, Parasmani (1963) dazzled audiences with its musical spectacle and mythical adventure, proving that there is a place for fantasy films in India. Fast forward to the early ‘90s, Bollywood made another notable attempt at large-scale fantasy with Hatim Tai (1990) and Ajooba (1991). Hatim Tai was a vibrant Arabian Nights-style tale packed with magic, mythical creatures, and heroic quests, while Ajooba, a Soviet-Indian co-production, saw Amitabh Bachchan donning the mask of a mysterious warrior fighting dark forces. These films had all the ingredients of grand fantasy—epic storytelling, larger-than-life characters, and a sense of wonder. Yet, despite their ambitious vision, they remained outliers rather than trendsetters.
Meanwhile, Indian television fully embraced fantasy with Chandrakanta, a series that became a household favorite by tapping into the country’s deep-rooted love for folklore and grand storytelling. And yet, despite these promising starts, Bollywood’s affair with fantasy has remained more of a brief fling than a committed relationship.
Indian Audiences Love Fantasy—Hollywood Proves It
Let’s not kid ourselves, Indians love fantasy films—just not the ones Bollywood makes. Hollywood’s success in India speaks for itself. The Harry Potter series made crores here, The Lord of the Rings has a devoted following, and Avatar outperformed many Bollywood blockbusters. Even recent releases like Dune, Wicked, and Fantastic Beasts draw massive crowds. Clearly, Indians have an appetite for dragons, wizards, and talking lions. The only problem? Bollywood just doesn’t serve them the same magic.
The Bollywood Conundrum: Where’s the Magic?
For starters, when Bollywood does attempt fantasy, it’s usually low-budget, visually unconvincing, or tonally inconsistent. The few times Bollywood has attempted fantasy (Brahmāstra) the result has been a CGI-heavy spectacle with weak narratives.
Meanwhile, Hollywood treats fantasy like a VIP genre. The Lord of the Rings was helmed by Peter Jackson, Pirates of the Caribbean had Johnny Depp and Gore Verbinski, Life of Pi was directed by Ang Lee, and even The Jungle Book had Disney’s full backing. These films featured world-class VFX, tight storytelling, and a commitment to world-building that Bollywood has yet to match.
Is It Really About the Audience?
One common excuse is that Indian audiences don’t have an appetite for fantasy. But let’s be real—Indians have grown up on Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vikram-Betaal, and many other fantasy-rich narratives. Our mythology is packed with larger-than-life stories that rival The Witcher or Star Wars. If anything, Indian audiences are primed for fantasy. The problem isn’t demand—it’s supply.
Why Bollywood Stays Away
One reason Bollywood shies away from fantasy is risk aversion. Big studios prefer safe bets—rom-coms, biopics, and action masala flicks. Fantasy demands high budgets, extensive CGI, and years of world-building. Unlike Hollywood, where studios invest in franchises for the long haul, Bollywood prefers quick returns.
There’s also the issue of writing. Fantasy needs immersive storytelling, well-developed lore, and intricate world-building. Hollywood writers spend years refining scripts and working with experts to create believable fantasy realms. Bollywood often rushes projects, relying more on star power than strong narratives.
Another factor is the technical expertise required. High-quality VFX is a non-negotiable in fantasy films, and while Indian studios have made progress, they still lag behind Hollywood’s industry giants. The cost of building a convincing fantasy world is high, and without the assurance of returns, investors hesitate to commit.
Moreover, Bollywood’s fixation on realism and melodrama often pushes fantasy to the sidelines. Even when elements of fantasy are introduced, they’re often diluted with excessive romance or forced comedy, making it difficult for the genre to stand on its own.
Fantasy vs. Mythology-Based Films
Bollywood has occasionally experimented with mythology-inspired spectacles like Adipurush, but these films often rely on established religious or historical narratives rather than creating original fantasy worlds. Unlike Hollywood, which builds intricate universes like Harry Potter, Bollywood has yet to produce a large-scale fantasy saga that isn’t rooted in existing mythology.
The Way Forward for Fantasy Films in India
What Bollywood needs is a visionary director willing to take a risk, backed by a studio that doesn’t flinch at big budgets. Imagine a film inspired by Indian epics, done with the scale of Lord of the Rings or Narnia. Imagine an Indian fantasy saga that doesn’t just imitate but innovates.
With streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar offering Indian filmmakers a global audience, there’s a golden opportunity to experiment with fantasy storytelling. The rise of digital effects and increased budgets for web series also indicate that a large-scale fantasy project is more feasible than ever before.
The key is commitment, to world-building, storytelling, and technical excellence. India has the resources, talent, and a vast cultural treasure trove of mythologies and folk tales waiting to be explored. If done right, Bollywood can create its own fantasy franchises, ones that blend our rich heritage with cutting-edge storytelling.
The audience is ready. The question is: Is Bollywood?
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