Desi Meets Comic-Verse: Marvel, DC and Bollywood’s Interconnected Movie Universes

From the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to DC’s rebooted Super-verse and now Bollywood’s burgeoning interconnected franchises, the concept of cinematic universes has morphed into a global phenomenon. As Marvel and DC recalibrate strategy after years of complexity and fatigue, Indian cinema is catching up fast, with spies, cops, horror spirits, and astras carving their own shared world-building paths.

In This Article:

  1. Marvel and DC’s Evolution: Scaling Back to Creativity
  2. Bollywood’s Shared Universes Take Shape
  3. Strengths and Shortcomings of Indian Shared Worlds
  4. Shared Universes Need Shared Vision: The Future Lies in Cohesive Storytelling

Marvel and DC’s Evolution: Scaling Back to Creativity

In summer 2025, both Fantastic Four: First Steps (Marvel) and Superman (DC) hit critical and box office highs, signaling a revival of fresh comic storytelling. Rather than relying on convoluted crossover events and deep franchise baggage, these films offer accessible, standalone stories inspired by classic comic age aesthetics and relatable villains. Nevertheless, studios remain tethered to universe-building: Marvel is eyeing Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, while DC under James Gunn is centring its future on Superman and plans for Supergirl, Green Lantern and other interconnected projects.

Bollywood’s Shared Universes Take Shape

YRF Spy Universe

Originating with Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) and War (2019), Yash Raj Films officially branded its Spy Universe in Pathaan (2023), featuring crossovers between Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan characters. The franchise continues this year with War 2 (2025).

Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe

Starting from Singham (2011) and Singham Returns (2014), the Cop Universe formally expanded via Simmba and Sooryavanshi, culminating in a multi-superstar ensemble in Singham Again. While commercially successful, critics note recurring actors in different roles and storytelling inconsistencies.

Maddock Horror-Comedy Universe

Launched with Stree (2018), this universe intertwines Bhediya (2022), Munjya (2024), and Stree 2 (2024), all tied by folklore-based horror-comedy Easter eggs and character overlaps across films.

Astraverse

Created by Ayan Mukerji and Dharma Productions, Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva (2022) inaugurates the Astraverse: a trilogy plus spin-offs themed around mythic astras (weapons) and mystical lore within modern settings.

Strengths and Shortcomings of Indian Shared Worlds

Strengths

  1. Mass appeal and box office firepower: Pathaan and Tiger 3 proved that crossovers electrify audiences. Fan excitement peaked with Salman and Shah Rukh sharing screens.
  2. Brand recall and loyal followings: Producers emphasize recall value, franchise familiarity translates into repeat viewership and long-term investment payoffs.
  3. Clear genre differentiation: Bollywood universes span espionage, cop drama, mythology and horror-comedy, offering audience variety within the shared-world framework.

Shortcomings

  1. Organic interconnectivity issues: Unlike the planned phases of the MCU, Indian universes were often retrofitted together. Cameos sometimes feel forced, and recurring actors in mismatched roles compromise continuity
  2. Narrative fatigue risk: Critics argue Bollywood may force universes onto stories that don’t need them, leading to diluted plots prioritizing future setups over standalone storytelling.
  3. Ideological imprint and tone: Many Indian universes revolve around state agents and hyper-masculine patriotism, sometimes veering into nationalist spectacle, unlike Marvel’s more subversive outsider-hero narratives.

Shared Universes Need Shared Vision: The Future Lies in Cohesive Storytelling

Bollywood’s cinematic universes are evolving as a homegrown parallel to Marvel and DC’s interwoven worlds, but with their own flavor. While Marvel and DC recalibrate through creatively self-contained films and cautious expansion, Indian filmmakers are still in the early stages of mastering universe logic. Real success awaits those who blend character-driven storytelling with genuinely interlinked worlds, without sacrificing quality at the altar of crossover hype. As audiences grow savvier, Bollywood will need to strike a balance: building excitement through shared worlds while delivering narratives that stand on their own.

By – Sonali