NEW DELHI, Aug. 28 -- A quiet revival is underway in Bollywood, but it isn't the tentpole films making all the noise. Mid-budget titles, once thought destined only for streaming platforms after the pandemic, are drawing audiences back to theatres, defying the post-Covid slump and showing that moviegoers want more than just spectacle.

Recent successes such as the romantic drama Saiyaara, the comedy Bhool Chuk Maaf, and Sitaare Zameen Par signals a shift. These films, made without major star power or massive special effects, had decent openings and are finding an audience, particularly if word-of-mouth is positive.

Industry experts say this trend is a vital lifeline for the exhibition sector, helping to sustain the theatre-going habit at ...