Gen Z’s Trend GPS: "Bollywood Isn’t the Only Destination''

DOES GENZ GET ITS NEW TRENDS FROM BOLLYWOOD OR SOMEWHERE ELSE?

There was a time when Bollywood didn’t just make movies - it set trends. “Poo” was the major inspiration for every girl in her twenties. Be it Rani Muhkerjee’s lehenga in “say shava shava” to PC’s “Desi Girl” saree, we loved, we admired, we desired. If Kareena Kapoor wore low-rise jeans in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, every college canteen became a runway.

If Priyanka Chopra got blunt bangs in Fashion, you were cutting your hair by Sunday.Ranbir Kapoor’s scarf in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani? National phenomenon. But flash forward to 2025 - Gen Z’s fashion, music, and slang don’t always come from the big screen. In fact, we might be living through the first generation that looks at Bollywood not for inspiration… but for reaction content.

Back in the day, Bollywood was the culture! From “Bhai’s” walk, to Dabangg’s new sunglasses placement, everyone followed! If you wanted a new style, you looked at what Shah Rukh wore, what Katrina danced in, or what Deepika endorsed. The film industry decided what was “cool,” and we followed like obedient little trend disciples. But today? Bollywood is just one voice in a chaotic content universe. Instagram Reels, K-dramas, Pinterest boards, YouTube streetwear hauls — that’s where trends are born now. Bollywood doesn’t lead trends anymore; it tries to keep up with them.

The Real Trendsetters: TikTok, Instagram & The Internet Aesthetic

Gen Z doesn’t wait for a movie to tell them what’s in - they decide it themselves. Our trend cycle doesn’t start with a film release; it starts with a viral video. The internet has turned fashion into a remix culture:

• One day it’s “tomato girl summer.”

• Next day it’s “coastal cowgirl.”

• By Friday, it’s “Bollywood-core” — ironically inspired by 90s Bollywood, not the new stuff.

It’s not Kareena setting the tone anymore - it’s a creator from Surat or Seoul dropping a Reel with 1 million views. And Bollywood? It’s quietly scrolling, taking notes, and adding the same aesthetic into the next Dharma movie. Bollywood used to shape trends. Now it samples them. GenZ does not follow anyone or anything blindly, be it creators, influencers, actors or even trends. It judges, chooses, and then maybe follows those trends, always with a hint or a twist of its own effect. GenZ values comfort over style. Any trend that means stepping out of convenience is a dealbreaker, sorry, we’re too busy finishing our step count!  The biggest shift? We don’t just consume culture - we create it.

Bollywood gave us heroines who were glamorous; Gen Z gave us influencers who are relatable. Bollywood gave us choreographed perfection; Gen Z gave us the “messy dance on your terrace” vibe. Bollywood gave us lines like “Tumse na ho payega”; Gen Z turned it into memes. The power has shifted.The audience isn’t passive anymore — it’s participating. Every time someone recreates Alia Bhatt’s RRR look or mocks a cringey Bollywood edit, they’re shaping culture too. Bollywood doesn’t set trends now — it’s part of the trend ecosystem. GenZ does not follow, it evaluates.

Today’s Gen Z culture is a wild buffet - a little Bollywood glam, a little K-pop energy, a sprinkle of Y2K chaos, and a dash of Pinterest-core aesthetics. We’re influenced by music from Korea, makeup from LA, fashion from Milan, and memes from Delhi. And somehow, it all blends into something that’s ours. That’s the beauty of Gen Z, we don’t worship a single source. We collect everything we like and make it look cool. So yes, Bollywood still inspires us - but it doesn’t define us anymore.We’re not just watching the movie; we’re editing the trailer.

FINAL VERDICT

Bollywood is no longer the trend factory, it’s a trend participant. It’s still glam, still powerful, still iconic… but the monopoly’s gone.

Gen Z gets our trends from everywhere ,  a YouTuber’s thrift haul, from a Korean idol’s airport look, from a meme page that accidentally started a movement. We grew up with Bollywood, but we grew beyond it. Now, the new icons aren’t film stars , they’re us. We’re the main characters in our lives, and life is our own personal runway. Creators, curators, chaos-makers , the digital generation who don’t need a 100-crore movie to make something go viral.  Because in 2025, Bollywood doesn’t make trends , the internet does. And Gen Z? We own it. 💅✨

 Aapke Sawal, Hamare Jawab! (FAQs)

1. Do Gen Z really get their trends from Bollywood?

Not entirely! While Bollywood still sets major fashion and slang trends, Gen Z also picks up a lot from Instagram, TikTok, and K-pop culture. Bollywood might start it, but social media gives it the real viral push.

2. Which Bollywood celebs influence Gen Z style the most?

Icons like Alia Bhatt, Ananya Panday, Deepika Padukone, and Ranveer Singh often set the vibe. But lately, influencers like Komal Pandey and Uorfi Javed are giving Bollywood serious competition in the trend game.

3. How does Gen Z mix Bollywood trends with global ones?

They remix everything! A Gen Z might wear a Bollywood-inspired saree but style it with Nike sneakers and call it “desi drip.” It’s all about fusion — local + global = viral.

4. Has Bollywood lost its monopoly on youth trends?

Pretty much, yes. Earlier, one movie could define youth fashion for a year (think: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai). Now, trends change weekly on Reels. Bollywood inspires, but the internet decides what actually trends.

5. Where do most Gen Z Indians discover new trends today?

Mostly on Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Pinterest. Bollywood songs or movie clips often go viral there first — meaning Gen Z gets the trend secondhand, not straight from the big screen.