Bollywood is filled with unforgettable characters whose stories often leave us wanting more. Many of these characters have such rich personalities and intriguing backstories that they could easily lead their own spinoff films or series. It’s a chance for audiences to dive deeper into their lives, reconnect with them, and explore untold chapters of their journeys.
A spinoff can take us behind the scenes of a character’s past, revealing their motivations, struggles, and untold emotions. These deeper insights add layers to what we already know, showing us what shaped their choices and actions. Whether it’s about their life before the main film or what happened after, spinoffs give filmmakers endless opportunities to tell meaningful and engaging stories.
Sometimes, there are subplots or side stories in movies that feel incomplete. Spinoffs can revisit these threads, giving us a closer look at mysteries or transformations we only got a glimpse of in the original. Supporting characters, in particular, often leave us curious. A spinoff brings them into the spotlight, offering new perspectives and letting us understand them in ways we couldn’t before.
From a business angle, spinoffs can be hugely successful, especially when tied to popular franchises. Fans love exploring familiar worlds and staying connected with their favorite characters. These projects not only bring in box-office revenue but also open doors for merchandise, streaming, and more.
For filmmakers, spinoffs are a creative playground. They can try new storytelling styles, experiment with different genres, and even tackle themes that the original film couldn’t fully explore. It’s a chance to bring fresh ideas to the table while staying rooted in stories we already care about.
In the end, spinoffs are a win-win for both creators and audiences. They expand the world of the original film, add emotional depth, and keep us invested in these cinematic universes. Whether in Bollywood or Hollywood, it’s clear that audiences love seeing their favorite characters take the lead in new, exciting ways.
The spinoff revolution
Spinoffs are a growing trend in the entertainment world, with characters from hit films becoming stars of their own. In Hollywood, favorites like The Minions from Despicable Me, Puss in Boots from Shrek, and Creed from the Rocky series have gone from side roles to leading blockbuster franchises. The latest one being Wednesday from Adam’s Family.
Bollywood is slowly stepping into this space, with movies like Naam Shabana from Baby and Bob Biswas from Kahaani. While the term is relatively new in Bollywood, our cinema had already seen several films that could be considered spin-offs long before the new millennium, though they were never officially labeled as such.
Indian cinema has a long history of films that could be considered spin-offs, though they weren’t officially labeled as such. For example, Hrishikesh Mukherjee reused Lalita Pawar’s character from Anari in Mem Didi and Anand, In the mid-1960s, IS Johar created a series with Johar Mehmood spin-offs, and Joginder’s iconic villain, Ranga, from Bindiya Aur Bandook led to Ranga Khush, Sholay also spawned numerous spin-offs, including Soorma Bhopali and Veeru Dada. Additionally, films like Raja Aur Rana and Saamri further showcased this trend in Indian cinema.
Supporting characters often become fan favorites, leading to successful spinoffs that explore their intriguing backstories or unique perspectives. For instance:
Severus Snape and The Cursed Child: While not strictly a film, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child delves deeper into the Harry Potter universe, showcasing characters like Snape in new contexts, offering fans more of his layered persona.
Saul Goodman and Better Call Saul: A spinoff of Breaking Bad, this show focuses on the morally complex lawyer Saul Goodman. It explores his journey before the events of the original series, revealing his struggles and motivations.
Joey Tribbiani and Joey: As a beloved comic relief character in Friends, Joey’s popularity paved the way for Joey, a spinoff series that follows his life as an actor navigating Hollywood.
Maleficent and Sleeping Beauty: The Maleficent films reimagine the villain from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, diving into her origins and motivations, turning her into a sympathetic and multifaceted character.
The Minions Franchise and Despicable Me: The adorable yellow creatures from Despicable Me became so popular that they earned their own spinoff films, Minions and Minions: The Rise of Gru, exploring their origins and adventures.
Wolverine and the X-Men Franchise: Wolverine, one of the most iconic characters from X-Men, got standalone films, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Logan. These spinoffs dive deeper into his emotional struggles and gritty backstory, with Logan pushing narrative boundaries in the superhero genre.
Each of these spinoffs capitalizes on the fan base and success of the original works, offering fresh narratives while staying true to the essence of the characters.
Spotlight on fan favourites
Spinoffs thrive because of fan-favorite characters who truly connect with audiences. These are the characters who stand out in a movie, whether through their charm, depth, or mystery, leaving fans eager to see more of their stories. Both Bollywood and Hollywood have nailed these with characters like Baburao from Hera Pheri, Circuit from Munna Bhai franchise, Dory from Finding Nemo and Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad, and many more proving that rich backstories and complex personalities always win hearts.
Fans often want to dive deeper into these characters’ worlds, making them the perfect leads for spinoffs. Shedding some light on the rising demand of spinoffs in Bollywood, Film Exhibitor Akshaye Rathi said, “The trend of spinoffs is absolutely the most natural play around some of the most iconic movies. And the reason, let’s say, Singham Again has been designed and put out is to create those sorts of standalone IPs with Tiger Shroff’s character, Deepika Padukone’s character, etc. Similarly, you’ve had the whole Spy Universe franchise, the Dhoom franchise, and all of that, which Yash Raj has, where they can do it, where there’s a lot of conversation around John Abraham’s character being spun off into a different film and stuff like that. We have to realize that we are in the business of not just storytelling but intellectual property rights management. And anybody who can play a good, you know, integrated play on that will always have a lot of value to generate out of successful IPs. And I truly hope that many of our filmmakers can do that with elan and create the right kind of franchises with these elements that are monetizable individually and collectively.”
Director Aditya Sarpotdar also added, “The trend of spin-offs of popular characters in movies is definitely catching up, largely because the original film or franchise has already developed a significant fan base. It’s imperative for the original film to be a big hit, as only then can you capitalize on that audience and bring them back as repeat viewers for the next installment. For example, with Munnabhai, it was a prime case of a character seamlessly transitioning into sequels. However, it’s crucial to promise the audience something even better in the next film. After falling in love with the story and character in the first installment, the audience expects the sequel to stay true to the essence of the character while placing them in a fresh and exciting scenario.”
Popular characters deserving their own spinoffs
Babu Rao from Hera Pheri franchise
Some characters have a way of making you laugh just by thinking about them. Baburao, played by Paresh Rawal, is one of those unforgettable figures. His innocence, perfect comic timing, and iconic lines like “Ye Baburao ka style hai” and “Utha le re baba, utha le, mereko nahin, isko utha le” have made him a fan favorite. The hilarious situations he finds himself in deserve a spinoff of their own—there’s so much more laughter to explore with him!
When asked about the idea of this character receiving a spinoff, Paresh Rawal told ETimes in an interview in 2021, “Why not? It would be interesting to put Baburao against different backdrops to see how he excels. I think it is a unique character in all aspects. He has all the qualities in him. He has an RK Laxman and Chaplin kind of characterisation.”
Mohan Bhargav from Brahmastra Part 1 Shiva
Mohan Bhargav, the scientist played by Shah Rukh Khan in Brahmastra, quickly became a fan favourite, with audiences eager for more of his story. His cameo was so well-received that it sparked demand for a deeper exploration of the character. The role is a tribute to Swades, where Ayan Mukerji, the director of Brahmastra, worked as an assistant director to Ashutosh Gowariker.
In a recent interview with Indian Express, Ayan Mukerji revealed that a spinoff focused on Mohan Bhargav is in the works for Brahmastra Part 2. Mukerji shared that the idea for the spinoff emerged while filming Shah Rukh Khan’s sequence in 2019. During this time, he and his team discovered the character’s unique personality and felt there was a compelling story to tell about the scientist’s origins.
MC Sher from Gully Boy
In Gully Boy, MC Sher, played by Siddhant Chaturvedi, stole the spotlight with his powerful presence, often outshining the lead stars, Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. As Murad’s mentor, MC Sher became the voice of reason, guiding him through life’s struggles and playing a crucial role in turning Murad’s life around for the better.
Fans couldn’t get enough of him and were eager to learn more about the rapper’s backstory, struggles, and his journey after Murad’s rise to fame.
Reports were rife that producer Ritesh Sidhwani and director Zoya Akhtar are working on a spinoff centered around MC Sher, exploring his overnight rise to stardom and addressing all the unanswered questions about his character’s life. However, there has been no official confirmation or announcement about the same as yet.
Langda Tyagi from Omkara
Omkara has become a cult classic over the years, with its unforgettable characters and the world created by Vishal Bhardwaj. Fans still remember it fondly. One of the standout characters, Langda Tyagi, is often regarded as one of Saif Ali Khan’s best performances, known for being ruthless and incredibly cunning.
There are still many unanswered questions about Langda Tyagi’s character—like how Saif Ali Khan’s character got his limp or how Langda ended up joining Omkara’s gang. A spinoff series or film focusing on these aspects would be a real treat for cinephiles, offering fans a deeper dive into his intriguing backstory.
Zoya from Tiger franchise
Katrina Kaif has shown interest in a spinoff film focusing on her character Zoya from the Tiger franchise. She’s shared the idea with Salman Khan, who supports it, and they’ve also brought the YRF team into the discussions. Fans may soon get to explore more of Zoya’s story.
Circuit from Munna Bhai series
The character of Circuit played by Arshad Warsi in Munna Bhai series with Sanjay Dutt has received a lot of love and affection from the audience over the years. His look, mannerisms and dialogues are still popular amongst fans who keep on recreating them. Demand for a standalone film for the character is definitely there and it would be an ultimate treat for his fans.
Challenges of turning sidekicks into superstars
Creating a successful spinoff comes with its challenges. One big hurdle is keeping the character’s original essence intact while giving them enough depth to lead their own story. Writers and directors have to carefully balance developing the character without changing what made them so lovable in the first place.
Sometimes, characters who shine in supporting roles don’t always work as leads because their impact often depends on interactions with the main characters. A good example is Bob Biswas from Kahaani where the fans felt the imapct of the character was not the same as in the original film.
When asked if spinoffs are better suited for theatrical releases or streaming platforms in terms of profitability, Saurabh Varma shared, “Spinoffs can thrive both in theatres and on streaming platforms, but they need to succeed initially in these mediums before branching into areas like gaming, merchandise, and more. A well-executed spinoff can achieve global success, as seen with iconic characters like Captain Jack Sparrow, Mickey Mouse, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Batman, and Minions, who dominate films, merchandise, theme parks, and digital platforms. Similarly, characters like Super Mario and Chhota Bheem have leveraged gaming and streaming potential to expand their reach, proving that spinoffs can generate profits across multiple channels.”
While Aditya Sarpotdar stated, “Spin-offs are definitely better suited for theatrical because you have already audience who wants to come pay money and buy tickets into theaters so I don’t see spin-offs happening for characters in OTT because then you’re basically taking off the potential of the film and the box office that it will generate.”
Spinoff’s box office potential
From a box office standpoint, spinoffs have been a great success for production companies in Hollywood. For example, Hollywood’s Minions made over $1 billion worldwide, showing how spinoffs can attract big audiences by tapping into existing fan bases. This kind of box-office success gives studios confidence to expand popular franchises.
While Bollywood is still in the early stages of creating spinoffs, the potential for strong earnings is clear. As viewers continue to enjoy character-driven stories, spinoffs are likely to perform well, especially if they build on an already established world with loyal fans.
Sharing his views on the same, director Saurabh Varma told ETimes, “The success of the original franchise is crucial for a spinoff’s potential, especially in theatrical releases. Box office performance reflects audience engagement and the character’s popularity. A hit film demonstrates market demand for extending its world. However, a spinoff needs a strong foundation, with the original establishing a compelling character arc that resonates with viewers. Without this, a spinoff may falter. Ultimately, the original film’s fan base and success pave the way for the spinoff to flourish.”
Adding to the same, Aditya Sarpotdar added, “The way we are working with Munjya or how Maddok Films is working with Bhediya, or even with characters from Stree returning in its sequel, reflects this growing trend. Similarly, Bhool Bhulaiyaa has seen Kartik Aaryan’s character evolve into the sequel, paving the way for part 3. This pattern is becoming more common, but the original films must succeed for such continuations to be possible.”
What’s next for spinoff movies?
The growing demand of spinoffs suggest they have great untapped potential. As audiences become more engaged with expansive story universes, both Bollywood and Hollywood are likely to focus on character-driven spinoffs that explore deeper stories.
Streaming platforms are also influencing the future by offering space for films and limited series. For example Wednesday from Adam’s Family. This allows creators to test more niche spinoffs and gauge audience reactions before diving into a full-scale franchise.
Akshaye Rathi shared, “There are quite a few successful franchises and universes being built, like the Munna Bhai series, the spy universe, the cop universe, and the horror-comedy universe. Additionally, Mirzapur is evolving into a theatrical release. Streaming platforms are also contributing significantly, with popular shows from TVF and Call Me Bae gaining traction. Many subplots and side characters from these projects hold the potential to spin off into standalone shows or films.”
With Bollywood aiming to replicate Hollywood’s success in expanding cinematic universes, we can expect more spinoffs centered on fan-favourite characters, paving the way for new standalone franchises that could redefine storytelling in both industries.