How Bollywood is Destroying Religion and Shaping the Young Generation

Bollywood, often described as India's dream factory, has an unparalleled influence on the Indian psyche. As a vital aspect of Indian popular culture, it has helped shape beliefs, perceptions, and behaviors over the decades. However, a worrying trend has emerged in recent years — the increasing tendency of Bollywood movies to mock religion and challenge traditional values. This trend has largely gone unnoticed or unchallenged, despite its profound impact on religious sentiments and the impressionable young minds of the country.

Bollywood and Its Relationship with Religion

India is a deeply religious country, with over 79% of the population identifying as Hindu, around 14% as Muslim, 2.3% as Christian, and 1.7% as Sikh, according to the 2011 Census. Religion permeates everyday life in India, influencing festivals, family traditions, and even politics. For many Indians, religious beliefs form the bedrock of their personal and community identity.

However, Bollywood's portrayal of religion has often been problematic. In recent years, certain Bollywood films and shows have openly mocked or trivialized religious practices, raising concerns about the industry's role in undermining societal values.

Mocking Religious Practices in Films

Bollywood has always had a complicated relationship with religious themes. While earlier films like Guide (1965) and Mother India (1957) respectfully portrayed the importance of spirituality and religion in Indian life, recent films have taken a different approach.

Movies like PK (2014), for instance, satirize religious rituals and deities. While some defend the film as an attempt to question blind faith and superstitions, many felt that the film crossed a line by ridiculing religious practices and symbols sacred to millions. The protagonist, played by Aamir Khan, questions the very foundation of organized religion and mocks its external practices, such as rituals and idols, which some audiences interpreted as an outright attack on religious belief itself. The film grossed over ₹832 crore globally, showcasing its massive reach.

Though the filmmakers claimed the satire targeted all religions equally, the Hindu majority took the brunt of the criticism. The depiction of Hindu priests as corrupt and rituals as nonsensical offended many. What is troubling is that these portrayals, though intended as satire, become accepted as reality, especially among the younger generation, who may not have the maturity to differentiate between entertainment and real-world values.

The Erosion of Religious Values Among Youth

The youth of India, which makes up about 34.33% of the population, is highly impressionable. Bollywood, with its star power and glamour, often dictates trends in fashion, lifestyle, and even attitudes. For a majority of young Indians, movies are not just a form of entertainment but also a source of inspiration and identity formation. This is where Bollywood's disregard for religious values becomes dangerous.

With the rise of digital platforms, young people now consume content more rapidly than ever before. Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ Hotstar provide easy access to Bollywood films and web series, and the line between meaningful cinema and derogatory representations becomes increasingly blurred. Many Bollywood films and shows portray religious practices as outdated or irrelevant, further alienating young viewers from their cultural roots.

For example, web series like Sacred Games depict religious figures in questionable light, often associated with criminal activities or moral corruption. This subtly conditions the audience, particularly younger viewers, to associate religion with negativity and irrelevance. Over time, these representations contribute to the dilution of religious values and traditions among the youth.

According to a 2021 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 79% of Indian adults say religion is very important in their lives. However, there is a stark difference between generations, with younger Indians being less religious than their parents. Nearly 36% of young Indians in urban areas claim to practice religion only occasionally, a significant drop from previous decades. Bollywood’s influence in fostering this secularism cannot be ignored, especially when films consistently undermine the sanctity of religious practices.

Religious Mockery and Growing Intolerance

Apart from undermining religious values, Bollywood’s insensitivity toward religion has contributed to growing intolerance and divisiveness in Indian society. Films like Padmaavat (2018) and PK sparked nationwide protests, not just because they depicted religion in a bad light but because they were seen as crossing cultural boundaries.

Despite these controversies, Bollywood continues to produce films that either mock or trivialize religion. The industry seems increasingly out of touch with the sensibilities of ordinary people, particularly the deeply religious communities. Instead of promoting inter-religious harmony or understanding, Bollywood has often exacerbated religious tensions. This can be seen in the number of protests, boycotts, and calls for censorship that religious organizations and communities have initiated against certain films.

The growing intolerance toward films that mock religion is a symptom of Bollywood's failure to create content that is sensitive to the diverse religious fabric of India. This is especially harmful in a country where religious sentiment can escalate to communal violence, as was seen during the Padmaavat controversy, where several protesters resorted to violence, burning cars and attacking theaters.

The Impact on National Identity

Religions in India are not merely personal belief systems but are deeply intertwined with national and cultural identity. Bollywood’s mockery of religious practices challenges the very foundation of what it means to be Indian. Over time, repeated negative portrayals can lead to a fractured national identity, where religion and traditional values are seen as obstacles to modernity and progress.

A report by the World Values Survey (2020) shows that 62% of Indians believe that religion should play a central role in the public sphere. However, Bollywood’s continued disregard for religious beliefs signals a move toward secularization, often without the nuance or understanding needed to bridge the gap between modernity and tradition.

How Bollywood Shapes Attitudes Toward Religion

One of the key reasons why Bollywood has such a powerful influence over public opinion is its storytelling prowess. Films are more than just entertainment — they are a way to connect with ideas and reflect societal changes. As filmmakers push the boundaries on sensitive topics like religion, they inadvertently shape the way young people perceive and interact with their faith.

For many young Indians, Bollywood is the primary source of information on cultural practices and traditions, especially as traditional religious practices wane in urbanized and modernized parts of India. If religious leaders or practices are shown as antiquated, corrupt, or comical, it is likely that younger viewers will adopt these attitudes in their real lives.

Bollywood's careless handling of religion sends the message that faith is irrelevant in the modern world. This is reflected in a growing number of young Indians distancing themselves from religion, either seeing it as an outdated construct or simply irrelevant to their daily lives. Data from the Indian Youth Survey (2019) shows that 38% of Indian youth in urban areas do not identify with any particular religion or claim that religion has no real significance in their lives.

The Commercialization of Religious Mockery

One cannot overlook the commercial benefits that come with mocking religion. Controversy sells. Films that challenge or mock religion generate buzz, media coverage, and free marketing. Filmmakers often leverage religious controversy to create pre-release hype, secure higher box office earnings, and gain attention in international markets.

PK, despite the criticism it faced for its treatment of religion, went on to become one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time. Similarly, Padmaavat earned ₹585 crores worldwide despite facing a massive backlash. The financial incentive to stir controversy by poking fun at religion continues to drive filmmakers to take liberties with religious sensitivities.

Conclusion: A Call for Responsible Filmmaking

Bollywood's role as a purveyor of popular culture in India gives it tremendous responsibility. The industry must acknowledge the power it wields and make conscious decisions about how it portrays sensitive topics, especially religion. While satire and critique are necessary in any society, they must be approached with care and respect for the religious sentiments of millions.

There is an urgent need for filmmakers to reflect on how their portrayal of religion can shape the worldview of young Indians. By encouraging mockery of religion, Bollywood risks alienating the youth from their cultural and spiritual heritage. The result is not just a loss of faith but a loss of the moral and ethical framework that religion provides in many people’s lives.

In a country as diverse as India, Bollywood must strive for inclusivity, respect, and responsibility in its storytelling. The future of Indian culture and national identity depends on it.