Why has no major film released this week?

– Shall we just say, it’s the calm before the storm next week which will see the release of PUSHPA: THE RULE PART 2?

Has the release of Chhaava been postponed? Why was no formal announcement made by the producers for the postponement?

– The producers must’ve not made a formal announcement of the postponement because except for the announcement of the scheduled release on 6th December, in the teaser (released many weeks back), there was no other indication that the film would hit the screens next week. By implication, therefore, it was evident that the film had been postponed. Otherwise, the trailer would’ve been released, and the other usual activities around the release would’ve started at least in mid-November. Incidentally, instead of clashing with PUSHPA: THE RULE PART 2, CHHAAVA will now come on 14th February, 2025.      

Why did big stars not perform at the IFFI in Goa this year?

– Stars are difficult to get after agencies have started managing their affairs. Their demands are unrealistic! It is learnt that Allu Arjun backed out at the last minute after agreeing to remain present for the IFFI’s closing ceremony. 

In the good old days, there was never a hue and cry raised over the release of a film’s trailer, as today. Then why so much brouhaha today?

– In those days, there was no social media. Today, with platforms like YouTube and social media, a trailer can reach millions of people in a minute. Hence the importance given to the release of trailers.

Some things about the functioning of the film trade are weird. For instance, small films require more promotion than big-budgeted and star-cast films because awareness about them is low, but such small films are rarely well promoted. Can’t this change?

– Yes, it is weird. But producers of small films rarely think of promotional budgets when they make those films. Initially, the aim is to get the film started any which way. By the time the film is completed, budgets are exhausted and, therefore, hardly anything remains to promote the film. But since it has to be released quickly, promotion goes out of the window. So the fault lies with the individual producers who don’t think in totality. Meri film kisi bhi tarha shuru ho jaaye, chalna-chalaana toh Bhagwan ke haath mein hai — this is their thought process which is not cent per cent true. Nobody thinks that agar chalna-chalaana Bhagwan ke haath mein ho sakta hai toh film banaana bhi Bhagwan ke haath mein hona chahiye.

Your thoughts on the teaser of Vicky Kaushal starrer Sam Bahadur?

– It’s good but not extraordinary. It did not have the goosebumps effect which one expects in a film of this kind.

How do you expect 2023 to pan out for the Hindi film industry?

– Very good. Year 2022 has taught the Hindi film industry people a lot of lessons, one of them being that there is no shortcut to success. The industry people are very smart, they must’ve already taken corrective steps, and the results will show in 2023.

Why did Cirkus not take an impressive opening?

– Because the first trailer did not have any scene which could evoke loud laughter or guffaws! Since the film is designed as a comedy, there ought to have been a couple of scenes which would’ve prompted people to laugh out loud.

After such a raging controversy around Pathaan, will it open well?

– You bet, it will take a bumper opening. Shah Rukh Khan will be coming to the big screen after such a long gap that there are all the chances of PATHAAN opening huge. Although those talking negative about the film and asking for a ban on its release would hate this, the fact is that they are all adding to the craze for the film and only building more and more curiosity around it.

Of the three films — Khel Khel Mein, Vedaa and Stree 2 — releasing on Independence Day, which, according to you, will open the best?

– It’s not possible to predict till one has seen the trailers of all the three films. The trailers of KHEL KHEL MEIN and VEDAA are yet to be released and, therefore, you will have to wait for our prediction about the initial. But after watching the trailer of STREE 2, we can safely predict that its opening will be phenomenal.

What corrective steps should Akshay Kumar take to get back into the league of successful stars?

– Sign better films with more commercial potential. Everything else will fall into place thereafter.

There’s so much of heartburn and tension almost every week when showcasing of films is being done. Exhibitors want to accommodate as many films as possible whereas each distributor wants all or the maximum number of shows for his film. Isn’t there a solution to this regular problem?

– It can start with the large multiplex chains outsourcing the task of showcasing to an independent agency. Smaller chains and single-screen cinemas can appoint the same agency once the multiplexes start reaping the benefits.

What kind of an initial do you expect Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan to take?

– Bumper. The film’s trailer has been loved. Also, the Besharam rang song from the film has caught people’s fancy notwithstanding the outcry against it and the controversy surrounding it. Two such big plus points are enough to attract the crowds to the cinemas.

I saw a video showing the police resorting to lathi charge to disperse the huge crowds that had gathered outside Salman Khan’s building for a glimpse of the actor on his birthday earlier this week. If that is what the police had to do, why are some people so anti-Salman on social media?

– So now you know whom to believe — the fans or the frustrated social media naysayers.

Is Aamir Khan right in taking a sabbatical for over a year after Laal Singh Chaddha?

– He is definitely not wrong because it’s his career and he knows the best.

Why has the release of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai been postponed to 5th June?

– It was clashing with CHAND MERA DIL, another romantic film, on the earlier scheduled date of release, 22nd May. So, the producers thought it better to go back to the original date — 5th June. You may recall that Tips had first planned to release HJTIHH on 5th June. They’ve now rescheduled the release to their original date. The release of TOXIC: A FAIRY TALE FOR GROWN-UPS has been shifted from 5th June. That’s another reason why Tips announced their film on that date.

Why has the release of Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups been postponed again?

– It has been postponed because the producers, KVN Productions, want to dub it in English and simultaneously release it Overseas like a proper English film. The dubbing can be done in a month but the film’s marketing abroad will take several months and hence the release had to be postponed. 

Why is there so much despair in the exhibition sector these days?

– When films don’t work at the ticket windows, there is bound to be despair — not just in the exhibition trade but in all the other sectors too.

When sale of cigarettes and alcohol is permitted, why are scenes, which show cigarette smoking and consumption of alcohol in films, required to be accompanied by disclaimers?

– It’s because films are considered to be very potent influencing platforms. The intention behind the disclaimers that cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are injurious to health is to warn people about the ill-effects of smoking and drinking so that they think ten times before emulating those smoking and drinking on screen.  

Prior to the film’s release, were the makers of Dhurandhar aware that their film would become such a huge blockbuster or even reach anywhere close to the blockbuster status?

– Director Aditya Dhar was aware that he was making a super-blockbuster. Artistes, who’ve worked in the film, recall Dhar often saying during shooting schedules that the film was turning out to be one that would write box-office history — of course, in a manner of expressing supreme confidence in the project rather than boasting.

What is the budget of Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups?

– Reportedly, over Rs. 600 crore!

What kind of an initial do you expect Dhurandhar 2 to take in March next year?

– Earth-shattering! In all likelihood, it will be the biggest opening the trade has ever seen! The best thing about DHURANDHAR 2 is that it will release after just three-and-a-half months of the first part’s release. In other words, the excitement will not abate when the second part releases because the first part will be in cinemas for several weeks more.

How is it that Avatar: Fire And Ash did well in the first week despite unencouraging reports?

– Whose reports were unencouraging? Only many among the media and the trade were speaking badly about the film. And that is because the first half was slow and a bit boring. But those who were sceptical about the film forgot to appreciate the fact that the second half was rivetting. And that’s the reason their judgement proved incorrect.

Why did Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri not take a good start on December 25?

– Obviously, because of the opposition of the hurricane called DHURANDHAR. Besides, this blockbuster of a film coupled with Hollywood’s AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH ensured that TMMTMTTM did not get the best showcasing in multiplexes and single-screen cinemas.

Why did Karan Johar not release Gehraiyaan in cinemas?

– The deal for the premiere release of GEHRAIYAAN on OTT was finalised much before the film had started. In fact, Karan Johar had right from before the film went on the floors, decided to make it for OTT rather than for cinemas, because of its bold content. The film may probably not have got the response which it is getting, had it been released theatrically first.

Among Gangubai Kathiawadi, RRR and Bachchan Pandey, for which film is the craze the highest?

– For RRR.

Do you think, the release date of Laal Singh Chaddha or Raksha Bandhan will be changed to avoid a clash on 11th August?

– No, the release date of neither film will be changed because of the impending clash. Aamir Khan announced the new release date of 11th August for LAAL SINGH CHADDHA after being aware that RAKSHA BANDHAN would be coming on the same date. And after Aamir’s announcement, Akshay Kumar and Aanand L. Rai underlined that they would not be changing the release schedule of their RAKSHA BANDHAN. So a change in release date of either of the two films for avoiding a clash is out of the question.