Why hasn’t this week’s Bhool Chuk Maaf taken even an ordinary opening?

– Why should it have taken even an ordinary initial? The cancellation of the film’s release on 9th May, at the last moment, got a lot of media coverage. The argument of PVR Inox in court — that producer Dinesh Vijan had cancelled the theatrical release at the eleventh hour because of poor response at the advance booking windows and not because of the war-like situation in the country — has also become public knowledge. After that, how can you expect the public to go to the cinemas to watch the film on the first day? And the most important point is the fact that BHOOL CHUK MAAF will be on OTT after two weeks. When this is public knowledge, how could you even imagine that the film would take a decent or even an average start? When the current exclusive theatrical window of eight weeks is being considered to be too small (because of which people are reluctant to come to the cinemas and instead prefer waiting for eight weeks to catch the film on OTT), you can well imagine the effect of the fact that this film will be streaming after just two weeks of its theatrical release.

What did you think of the teaser of Housefull 5?

– It’s an entertaining teaser. Plus, the film looks star-studded. The Laal pari song, shown in the trailer, should soon become popular because it looks like a potential hit!

What happens to the actors who are launched in films which don’t do well at all?

– Many of the times, the actors of such flop films also sink into oblivion because in this industry, nothing succeeds like success.

After the court order asking producer Dinesh Vijan for specific performance of contract with reference to Bhool Chuk Maaf, what is the position regarding its release?

– The film will hit the screens next week. It will stream on Amazon Prime after only two weeks in the cinemas. Incidentally, although this is an out-of-court settlement, the trade (especially producers) are shocked that PVR Inox agreed to reduce the theatrical window for the film by six weeks — that too, after winning the case. As one producer venomously remarked, “PVR Inox seems to have lost the battle after winning it. And Dinesh Vijan seems to have won the battle after losing it.” Understood?

What is the progress of Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana, being directed by Nitesh Tiwari?

– Shooting of the first part will be complete by June-end. But the film will release only next year because it has a lot of visual effects work which will take more than a year to complete.

Was the decision to cancel the theatrical release of Bhool Chuk Maaf last week right?

– Producer Dinesh Vijan cited national security concerns for cancelling the release of BHOOL CHUK MAAF. But the high court dismissed his claims. So, obviously, the decision was bad in law — and even otherwise.

What repercussions will the 100% tariff introduced by US president Donald Trump on films made outside the US have on the Indian film industry?

– It could have a devastating effect because the revenues from Overseas business of Indian films could reduce by half.

What would you say: Hollywood film Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning will release six days early or a day late? After all, it will hit the screens on a Saturday — May 17. I feel, it can be construed as a day late — May 17 (Saturday) instead of May 16 (Friday).

– Since it was originally scheduled for release in India with the US and rest of the world, on 23rd May, the new release date of 17th May will be considered as being six days early. The film’s release date in the US has not been changed and, therefore, the only way to describe the new release date in India is to say that it will come to the screens six days early. The release on 17th May could’ve been considered a day late if and only if the original release date was 16th May.

Will the cancellation of the release of Bhool Chuk Maaf this week benefit last week’s film, Raid 2?

– You bet, it will!

In their first weeks, both, Sikandar and Jaat, seemed all set to net Rs. 100 crore each in India. But it is now clear that neither will join the Rs. 100-crore club. What happened?

– Both the films followed the same pattern — they did reasonably well in their first week, but collections dropped dramatically thereafter because the reports did not match the initial collections. In its first week, Salman Khan’s SIKANDAR got the benefit of Eid while Sunny Deol’s JAAT reaped the benefit of Mahavir Jayanti and Ambedkar Jayanti in its first week. It may be added here that the benefit of Eid to SIKANDAR did not accrue fully but the festival did help give its box-office collections a boost. Had it not released on Eid, nobody would’ve even initially expected the film to net Rs. 100 crore domestically. Ditto for JAAT.

When the entire industry agrees that it is the small window between a film’s theatrical and OTT release which has resulted in lower footfalls in cinemas, why does the industry not correct the situation?

– Probably because if the window is lengthened, the money which comes from the OTT platforms to the producers will reduce. There are several films, which don’t work at the box-office because they are substandard, but they still end up being profitable ventures for the producers only because such films get handsome monies from the OTT platform. If the window between a film’s theatrical release and OTT release is increased to, say, six months, the footfalls may increase, but the table profits might decrease. That is to say, the increased footfalls (and, therefore, box-office collections) may not be enough to compensate for the loss in revenue from sale of digital rights of the film.

I have a story for a film, which has all the ingredients of a box-office entertainer. I’ve knocked the doors of so many production houses, but nobody wants to entertain me as I am a new writer. What should I do? A potential hit is waiting to happen.

– Keep trying! By the way, when they start a film, every writer, producer and director feel, they are making a blockbuster. They all are convinced that their story is the best. But yet, the box-office success ratio every year is barely 20%.

What kind of an opening do you expect Raid 2 to take?

– RAID 2 should take a very good initial as the first part — RAID — had fared very well at the box-office.

Why do South stars usually not devote time to promote the Hindi dubbed versions of their films at the time of release, like they promote it in the original language?

– Lack of time, one supposes. Many of the South films are dubbed and released in Hindi just to mark the presence of the stars pan-India. The stars themselves know that the Hindi dubbed version of their film may not prove to be a hit. For every PUSHPA or RRR or K.G.F., there are many South films which don’t make any mark in Hindi.

What is your opinion on Bhool Chuk Maaf?

– The trailer looks pretty interesting. If the comedy can make the audience laugh, the film might turn out to be a surprise packet.

Any reason why Akshay Kumar’s Kesari Chapter 2 did not take a flying start today?

– In the changed scenario, it is usually spectacular films or those with hit music or very successful franchise films which open well. Other than the above kind of films, only those which generate a lot of excitement among the public — because of either the star cast or the content (as evident from the trailer) or the music — take flying starts. Films like KESARI CHAPTER 2 have to depend upon word of mouth. From the trailer, it was clear that KESARI CHAPTER 2 was targeting the classes more than the masses. Hence the question of a flying start was ruled out.

What is the full form of KDM which cinemas keep talking about at the time of release?

– KDM stands for Key Delivery Message. It is the KDM which cinemas have to receive for them to start any film. Without receipt of the KDM, a film cannot be started under the digital cinema system, which is the norm these days.

How is it that the producers of Jaat have announced its sequel even though the film has not done well at the box-office?

– Mythri Movie Makers and People Media Factory have announced JAAT 2 because a sequel was already in the offing. Perhaps, the writing team and the director will work harder on the script in the second part so that they can make up for the drawbacks in the first part.   

Why did Sunny Deol starrer Jaat not take a good start yesterday (Thursday, April 10) in spite of the Mahavir Jayanti holiday? The trade people were gung-ho about the film before it hit the screens.

– The trade people were excited about JAAT before its release largely because it is produced by the banner which made PUSHPA: THE RISE PART 1 and PUSHPA: THE RULE PART 2. Yes, they were also excited because they liked the trailer, but the public did not like it half as much. The O Rama song did not gain traction; the promotion in general was not at all up to the mark; and the “Sorry bol” dialogue of Sunny Deol did not cut much ice with the people because, according to them, “Sunny is not meant to be bothered about such niceties as saying ‘sorry’, he has his dhai kilo ka haath, so why should he request anyone to apologise?” Clearly, common people think differently from how the trade people do… at least, sometimes.

Was it the right decision for the producers of Jaat to have released the film on Thursday (April 10) instead of the usual Friday?

– Releasing JAAT on Thursday was not a wrong decision at all. At several places, the film’s producers reaped the benefit of the Mahavir Jayanti holiday yesterday (Thursday, April 10).  

After the debacle of Sikandar, what corrective steps should Salman Khan take?

– He should sign the right kind of films. What is meant by ‘the right kind’? Well, those that have the ingredients to become hits. Easier said than done, of course!

Isn’t Sunny Deol’s Jaat coming too close after Salman Khan’s Sikandar? There should’ve been a gap of at least a month between the two releases, isn’t it?

– Now that SIKANDAR has bombed, the gap of 11 days is good enough. Had SIKANDAR been a hit, it would’ve been a problem as SIKANDAR would have still been competing for shows with JAAT. But now, that scenario is ruled out as SIKANDAR would be out of many cinemas by the time JAAT makes the scene.

What did you think of the trailer of Kesari Chapter 2?

– A very engaging trailer which should definitely bring the public into the cinemas.  

How would you summarise the first quarter of 2025?

– Fairly good, thanks to the huge success of CHHAAVA. Could’ve been far better if films like SIKANDAR, SKY FORCE and DEVA had also worked, but they all bombed, prompting me to say that the first quarter wasn’t great.

Your thoughts on the Jaat trailer?

– It is a very mass-appealing trailer which has the power to draw the public to the cinemas.

What is the running time of Sikandar? 150.08 minutes or 135.47 minutes? While the applied running time is 150 minutes and 8 seconds, the film’s duration is said to be 135 minutes and 47 seconds although there are only two alterations — one in sound and the other relating to the blurring of a political party’s hoarding. Both the abovementioned alterations haven’t affected the running time of the film. Then how do you explain the anomaly?

– The running time is 135 minutes and 47 seconds. The film, which was applied for certification, had a running time of 150 minutes and 8 seconds, but the producer then opted for voluntary cuts of 14 minutes and 21 seconds.  

Is the success ratio of Gujarati films higher than that of Hindi films?

– No, the success ratio of Gujarati films (around 12-15%) is pretty much the same as the success ratio of Hindi films. 

Why was so much time lost in deciding and announcing whether Sikandar would be released on Friday (28th March) or on Sunday/Monday after the Friday because of Ramzan days?

– It isn’t an easy decision to take. The producers were trying to assess what would be the right decision for the film and its business. The main reason for the delay was also the uncertainty over the date of the Eid festival which depends on the moon sighting.

What kind of an initial do you expect Jaat to take?

– The producers of JAAT have to pump up its publicity. As of now, the publicity is below the mark and hence excitement for the action film starring Sunny Deol is not up to the mark. If the producers increase the pitch of the promotion in the next three weeks till April 10 (when the film is scheduled to hit the screens), the film might open very well. After all, it is coming after the blockbuster business of Sunny’s action film, GADAR 2. 

Why is Karan Johar getting into regional cinema? Isn’t it a comedown for one of the topmost producer-directors of the country?

– Did you actually ask whether it’s a comedown?!? You must be joking! You are probably not aware that regional cinema delivers some of the biggest blockbusters every year. Karan has not just co-produced Punjabi film AKAAL but will also foray into cinema of other languages in time to come. And yes, you, perhaps, don’t remember that his foray into South cinema (BAHUBALI) yielded him huge profits.