Indian Cinema: Stardom Shifts from Guarantee to Multiplier

• Indian cinema's stardom no longer guarantees success, as per the IMDb "25 Years of Indian Cinema" report.
• Stars now act as "multipliers" of a film's intrinsic strengths, rather than "guarantors" of success.
• The star-fan relationship is "more porous" due to direct engagement, leading to less devotional fandom.
• Contemporary actors release fewer films and face a fragmented attention economy, making sustained superstardom challenging.
• Success increasingly relies on cross-industry collaboration and creative coherence, with directors as "key architects."

Why It Matters: Film success now relies on strong stories and collaboration, not just star power.