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Bollywood is more than just elaborate dance routines and epic love stories.
It's a unique tale of success by an industry that hustled its way to the top with energy and creativity.
You, too, can be successful in anything you do if you follow a few simple lessons from Bollywood!
Go Big Or Go Home
When you say "Bollywood", people immediately think of colorful sets, eye-catching song and dance routines, highly dramatic acting, and quirky humor.
It's a bold, in-your-face style that doesn't compromise. Compare that to "safe" but forgettable Hollywood films made to appeal to focus groups.
The Lesson
Fortune favors the brave, so be ready to capture people's attention with bold moves! You might just catch on.
Did you know?
Do Your Own Thing
Bollywood is the most successful film industry in the world, producing over 2000 films per year. And it's totally self-sustaining!
Do you think Hollywood can do better? Think again:
Only 873 films were made in North America for commercial audiences in 2019, and that was the highest ever.
In India, North American films only account for 10% of box office ticket sales.
The Lesson
You don't always need help from established outsiders to make it big. If people love what you do, that's a foundation you can build on.
Quiz
What was the most successful Bollywood film of all time?
Dangal earned $287 million USD in box office sales worldwide.
Mix It Up
Movies on streaming sites are put into neat little boxes: dramas, comedies, action, etc.
In Bollywood, you'll rarely find a movie that's just one thing. "Masala movies" are a highly entertaining mish-mash that audiences love.
Named after the tradition of mixing different spices into a curry, masala movies throw genres into a blender to produce gangster rom-coms, action melodramas, and even "Curry Westerns" , where cowboys meet musical theatre.
The Lesson
Get creative! If you offer people something new, you'll turn heads and get noticed.
Take Action
Bollywood proves that you can be wildly successful if you lean into your strengths and appeal to people with your unique flair.
Do you have a business or endeavor you want to get off the ground? Be like Bollywood:
This Byte has been authored by
Steve Birek
Director of Learning Content at Rumie