Once seen as one of Bollywood’s most exciting performers, Shahid Kapoor is clearly in crisis. Critics and viewers of his latest movies wonder about his direction as they have not sparked the box office.
With several flops in the past few years, rumors in the business indicate the actor is emotionally challenged by the weight of unmet expectations.
Kapoor is yearning atonement as he films Farzi 2, the much awaited follow-up to his popular OTT series. Can this endeavor, however, save his declining popularity?
The Fall Starts: Deva’s Horrible Run
Released on February 14, 2025, Deva was the latest setback to Shahid Kapoor’s career. Deva was hailed as his major comeback to the action thriller genre since Kapoor’s performance in action scenes received great praise.
That was insufficient, though, to prevent the movie from flirting with disaster at the box office. Box Office India claims that Deva was a huge commercial flop, barely collecting about Rs. 18 crores against its large Rs. 60 crore budget.
Given its vigorous advertising strategy, the disappointing result of the movie was a nasty surprise. At a March 2025 news conference, Kapoor allegedly became irate when questioned on the poor quality of the movie.
A filmfare analysis from the same month said creative disputes had dogged the project from the beginning and hinted at conflicts between him and the production crew.
Though he changed physically for the part, the film’s poor writing and formulaic plot overwhelmed his efforts, once more demonstrating that even the most committed actors cannot save a lousy script.
Bloody Daddy, Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, and Jersey—a String of Disappointments
Deva was not, sadly, an isolated failure. Perhaps starting with Bloody Daddy, a 2023 JioCinema movie that had a lot of buzz but finally fell short,
Kapoor’s descending spiral started Promoted as a slick action thriller, the movie got mixed reviews and presently has an average IMDb rating of 5.8. Although Shahid’s strong on-screen presence was welcomed, critics noted the poor quality of the storyline and lack of uniqueness of the movie.
Unlike his colleagues who have effectively reinvented themselves using OTT platforms, Kapoor’s entry into digital cinema simply served to highlight issues about his project selection.
Then arrived Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya in 2024, a romantic drama with worldwide grossing value of Rs. 133 crores, claims Bollywood Hungama. Although the movie was not a financial disaster, mixed reviews hampered its popularity.
Although critics thought the film’s plot was unoriginal, Kapoor’s chemistry with co-star Kriti Sanon received high marks.
The fact that a movie costing more than Rs. 100 crores was nonetheless regarded as a letdown reveals a lot about the changing Bollywood standards, where success is no longer defined by simple box office performance.
To exacerbate his problems was Jersey (2022), a retelling of the highly regarded Telugu film with the same name. With an estimated budget of Rs. 80 crores, Shahid’s sincere performance notwithstanding, the movie was a disappointment.
Only Rs. 20 crores was earned. Given that this setback came shortly following his career-defining hit, Kabir Singh (2019), which had gathered Rs. 379 crores globally, it was very painful.
Many had expected Jersey to confirm his reputation as a top man in demanding, performance-driven parts. Rather, it signaled the start of an alarming trend—his incapacity to choose financially viable scripts.
The Emotional Cost and Waning Power
Beyond the figures, Kapoor’s attitude is clearly showing the effect of these successive failures. Industry insiders have observed changes in his behavior; stories of his mounting annoyance at public events abound.
His social media data also show a similar trend: from 2023 to 2025 Instagram interaction on his profile has declined by 15%. This drop implies that perhaps dissatisfied with his movie choices, even his devoted following is starting to lose interest.
Often assuming demanding roles requiring great preparation, Shahid Kapoor has always been renowned for his commitment to his trade. But in recent years, this same dedication has not produced the expected outcomes, which has spurred conjecture that he suffers with self-doubt.
Unlike performers who take comfort in playing with material, Kapoor is locked in a cycle of safe but uninspired projects. His present career challenges stand in sharp contrast to his best years, when he boldly delivered strikes like Kabir Singh.
Can Farzi 2 represent his atonement?
Farzi 2 currently represents Shahid Kapoor’s best chance for a return as the failures mount up. Released in 2023, Farzi’s first season was an absolute hit on Amazon Prime, ranking highest on Indian viewing charts with over 37 million streams.
Under the direction of Raj & DK, the show highlighted Kapoor in a gritty, complex performance that connected with viewers. Farzi proved he could still draw attention when supported by compelling narrative, unlike his most recent theatrical disasters.
Farzi 2 is under filming in Mumbai as of March 28, 2025; great expectations surround its release.
Should it be able to either match or exceed the popularity of its predecessor, Kapoor might become once more a major player in the OTT scene, just like Saif Ali Khan rebuilt himself with Sacred Games. Still, the issue is whether an OTT blockbuster will be sufficient to reverse the harm his theatrical failures do.
The Future Road Ahead
The career of Shahid Kapoor sits at a junction. Although his brilliance is still indisputable, his erratic decisions have had him difficulty keeping his footing in the business.
His next action will be vital: will he keep chasing commercial success at the expense of quality screenplays, or will he stand back and review his strategy?
Farzi 2 presents some optimism right now. Should it be successful, Kapoor’s career may not only be restored but also his confidence would be given fresh life.
Should it fail, though, he might find himself excluded in a field that advances without pause. Shahid Kapoor clearly needs a win, and he needs it soon.
