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Bollywood

BO-lee-wuud
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Bollywood (name) means the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India. Example: “Bollywood produces more films each year than Hollywood.”

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The Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India.
"Bollywood is also very commonly known as both tinsel town and B-town, neither of which is listed in the dictionaries." — James Lambert, Beyond Hobson-Jobson: A new lexicography for Indian English (2012)
"Bollywood produces more films each year than Hollywood."
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_____ produces more films each year than Hollywood.

Etymology

A blend of Bombay (Mumbai's former name) and Hollywood.

hindi cinema Urduwood

Rhymes for Bollywood

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Bollywood” mean?
The word “Bollywood” means the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India.
How do you pronounce “Bollywood”?
“Bollywood” is pronounced BO-lee-wuud (/ˈbɑ.li.wʊd/ in IPA).
How do you use “Bollywood” in a sentence?
Here is “Bollywood” used in a sentence: “Bollywood produces more films each year than Hollywood.”
What is another word for “Bollywood”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Bollywood” include Urduwood.
What part of speech is “Bollywood”?
“Bollywood” is a name.
Is “Bollywood” a common word?
“Bollywood” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between Bollywood and Hollywood?
Bollywood refers specifically to the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India, while Hollywood refers to the American film industry based in Los Angeles. The two are separate national film industries with distinct languages, production styles, and cultural traditions.
Is Bollywood the same as the entire Indian film industry?
No, Bollywood refers only to the Hindi-language segment of Indian cinema based in Mumbai. India has several other major film industries producing movies in other languages, such as Tamil and Telugu, which are sometimes referred to by their own nicknames.
Why is it called Bollywood?
The name Bollywood is a blend combining "Bombay," the former name of Mumbai where the industry is based, with "Hollywood," the American film industry hub. The term reflects the industry's location and its scale as a major global film production center.