India's film industry experienced a 12% rise in net box-office collections in 2025, reaching 10,453 crore, with Hindi films seeing a 20% increase to 4,792.7 crore. Industry executives attribute this growth to a shift in audience preference towards strong storytelling and diverse themes over star power. Films like 'Dhurandhar' exemplify this trend, with audiences favoring compelling narratives regardless of movie length or prior expectations.