In 2018, Hindi film audiences weren't pushovers and burst the 'star' bubble

A mere rub was no longer enough for us. We were no longer a formula. We had a voice. We mattered

We, the Hindi film audiences, are not known for putting up a fight. Bollywood stars have known and exploited this for decades. We’re in a position of power: we can reject their films, prick their egos, force them to introspect. And yet, Friday after Friday, we’ve remained oblivious to our basic rights: the freedom to choose. To stars obsessed with their images, we’ve failed to show them the mirror.

But 2018 was different. The year’s list of highest-grossing films featured some unlikely names. Gajraj Rao and Neena Gupta-starrer Badhaai Ho, centered on an older woman’s pregnancy, earned nearly Rs 137