Mumbai: The idea of a cinematic universe isn’t new to India. We’ve seen sequels and interconnected stories for decades. Remember the age-old film Nigahen: Nagina Part II (1989), attempting to expand the world of the Sridevi starrer Nagina (1986)? It didn’t work then. The audience stayed away from the sequel. Fast-forward to today, and Bollywood’s attempts at creating its own universes often feel like they’re tied to stars who are well past their prime.

In 2012, YRF released its first collaboration with superstar Salman Khan, Ek Tha Tiger, directed by former documentary filmmaker Kabir Khan. Tiger made Kabir a mainstream director to reckon with. Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), a sequel to Ek Tha Tiger, was directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. In 2019, YRF rolled out Siddharth Anand’s War, an action spectacle that pitted Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff against each other. These films evolved into YRF’s Spy Universe with superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s much-awaited comeback film Pathaan (2023), also directed by Siddharth Anand. Alpha, the next instalment in the spy universe, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, is set to release in December 2025.

Both Shah Rukh and Salman Khan will turn 60 in 2025, in November and December, respectively. Their next instalment in the spy universe seems really far away. Shah Rukh is working on Sujoy Ghosh’s King, co-starring his daughter Suhana. His work has been put on hold due to a shoulder injury SRK suffered. He can plan for Pathaan 2 only after he completes King. Meanwhile, Salman is busy shooting for Battle of Galwan. There’s no update on the rumoured Tiger versus Pathaan film. By the time these supposed films would go on the floor, both the superstars will be in their 60s.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh feels that younger stars need to be added to the franchise as the big stars cannot be........

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