Once upon a time, cinematic universes were a Marvel thing. Then came DC, then Fast & Furious turned into a soap opera with cars, and now here we are, watching Bollywood join the party with sirens, spies, and spirits. Call it the great multiverse migration or just a new-age storytelling hustle, but one thing’s clear: Bollywood’s figuring out how to turn solo hits into shared legacies.
It started subtly. Rohit Shetty dropped Singham like a cop-shaped thunderbolt. We thought it was a one-off. But then came Simmba, shouting “Aaya Police!” like he was born to scream it. Soon, Sooryavanshi rolled in, and boom the Cop Universe was a thing. Each film added a new layer, each hero borrowed screen time, and suddenly, it wasn’t just a movie. It was a movement sirens, slow-mo, and swagger in one tightly choreographed multiverse.
Meanwhile, Yash Raj Films, usually known for chiffon sarees and emotional damage, went full 007 meets Avengers with their Spy Universe. Pathaan, War, Tiger Zinda Hai all part of one sleek, protein-shake-fueled universe of globe-trotting desi agents who save the world, flirt with danger, and do it all with six-pack abs. What makes this one interesting is how planned it is. YRF didn’t just connect dots after the fact. They seem to have sat down with a whiteboard and said, “What if Kabir and Tiger high-fived in the middle of a missile launch?” And honestly, respect. That’s how you build a franchise with vision.
Then there’s Maddock Films, who decided the real crossover event would involve ghosts and giggles. What began with Stree, a horror-comedy that mixed scares with social commentary (and a whole lotta “O Stree kal aana”), morphed into something bigger. Roohi, Bhediya, and the Stree 2 have subtly interlinked, creating a world where supernatural beings roam the same towns, and they all know each other. It’s like if the Conjuring Universe had a sense of humor and a chai break in the middle.
And then yes, it’s real, we have Himesh Reshammiya’s Xposé Universe. Yes, that Xposé. That movie where he played a sleuth in a retro murder mystery, complete with chartbusters and eyeliner. Now there’s talk of a sequel and spin-offs starting with Badass Ravikumar, and it’s wild. But it proves a point: in Bollywood, no universe is too weird if it finds an audience.
The exciting part? Crossovers are getting louder. Whispers of Chulbul Pandey meeting Singham? That’s not just fan fiction anymore. There’s talk. Imagine those two trying to out-moustache each other. Even Luv Ranjan’s films, all about bromances and breakups, could secretly be a “Toxic Male Universe.” Okay, that’s satire. Sort of.
From a management POV (because we love blending cinema with smarts here), building a cinematic universe is like running a project portfolio. Each film is its own deliverable, but they all contribute to a shared vision. It’s risk mitigation with creative flair. Established characters reduce uncertainty, sequels carry lower marketing costs, and fan loyalty spreads across titles. Studios like YRF and Maddock aren’t just making movies, they’re crafting intellectual property ecosystems. That’s premium level planning, and it deserves a seat at the strategic table.
Of course, there are pitfalls. Bollywood can sometimes rush trends. We’ve seen half-baked sequels that relied more on nostalgia than logic. The key to sustaining a universe lies in patience, consistency, and strong writing rooms, not just star power and explosive finales. If the foundation is weak, no multiverse will save you.
But for now? We’re here for it. The idea that your favorite character could return not just in their sequel but in someone else’s movie, that’s thrilling. It gives fans something to invest in. It gives studios something to plan for. And it gives meme pages unlimited crossover potential (Singham meets Stree when?).
Flix Verdict:
Bollywood’s finally jumping into the multiverse, not just with masala, but with mission. If done right, this could be the start of something massive. But if it turns into a crossover for crossover’s sake? Well, even the multiverse won’t be able to save that box office crash.