Why are your reviews of films not highlighted in half- and full-page advertisements issued by producers for their films on the day of release of the films or on the following day or following Sunday?

– Only those reviews which talk in glowing terms about the film are highlighted in the advertisements, for obvious reasons. Strangely and quite often, the one-liners and stars mentioned against the names of the reviewers are given before some of those reviewers have even watched the film in question! That is why you may generally be seeing the same names being highlighted. Do you think, I would fall prey to such gimmicks? I don’t believe in pleasing producers. I am happy that my readers/viewers trust my reviews. That’s far, far more important than one’s name being flashed in dubious newspaper ads.

How were you so confident about the bumper opening of K.G.F. Chapter 2? In your ‘You Asked It’ column of 1st April (two weeks before the film’s release), you had said that the craze for the film was growing by the day and that the film’s opening would be bumper.

– You have my answer in your observation. I could say what I said because the craze for the film was growing by the day. If you want to understand how I gauged that, well, one has to have his ear to the ground all the time in this industry.

Was the decision of the producers of Jersey to postpone their film, right?

– Of course, it was cent per cent right. Looking to the bumper-and-beyond initial of K.G.F. CHAPTER 2 yesterday (Thursday, April 14), one can well say that releasing JERSEY alongside K.G.F. CHAPTER 2 would have been suicidal for the producers and distributors of JERSEY.

The business of The Kashmir Files was affected after the release of RRR. Now, the business of RRR will be adversely affected after the release of K.G.F. Chapter 2 next week. Can’t something be done about this?

– The only way to address this genuine problem is to have more number of cinemas. But even after that, new films will always continue to affect the collections of already released films albeit to a limited extent.

Why is Sajid Nadiadwala no longer the producer of Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali?

– There were differences between Sajid Nadiadwala and the film’s hero, Salman Khan, over the point of sharing IP and revenues. So as to not let that strain their friendship, the two decided that Salman Khan should produce the film under his own banner. Hence Sajid Nadiadwala is no longer a part of the film.

How do OTT platforms decide on their film acquisitions?

– Just like distributors do.

Why are many in the trade unwilling to accept that RRR (dubbed) has done exceedingly well?

– Those who feel, RRR is not up to the mark, had assumed before its release that it would be another BAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION, which was also directed by S.S. Rajamouli. They forgot that every film of Rajamouli cannot be a BAHUBALI.

Will K.G.F. Chapter 2 open as well as RRR?

– The craze for K.G.F. CHAPTER 2 is growing by the day. Whether it opens as well as RRR or less than it or more than it, the fact remains that its opening will be bumper.

Why did the producers of Jersey not schedule its release for 8th April instead of pitting it in direct opposition of K.G.F. Chapter 2 on 14th April?

– Like K.G.F. CHAPTER 2, the producers of JERSEY also wanted to take advantage of the Good Friday holiday on 15th April (Friday). Additionally, 14th April has the advantage of being a holiday for Mahavir Jayanti, Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti and Baisakhi.

Is the success of The Kashmir Files unparalleled?

– This success story reminds one of the runaway success of JAI SANTOSHI MAA in 1975.

Will the unimaginable success of The Kashmir Files change the way films are made and will it also prompt filmmakers to make serious films now?

– There will be a handful of producers who will announce serious films, now that THE KASHMIR FILES is such a huge hit, but please don’t expect the entire industry to change because of one film, howsoever huge its success. This is like saying that after the stupendous success of JAI SANTOSHI MAA in 1975, producers only made mythological films. But we all know, that’s not true.

Would Bachchhan Paandey have done well at the box-office if The Kashmir Files was not so strong in its second week?

– The business of BACHCHHAN PAANDEY was slightly adversely affected because of THE KASHMIR FILES but to think that if it would not have had to face the opposition of THE KASHMIR FILES, its fate would’ve changed is baseless. We’ve had two films releasing on the same day and both clicking at the box-office. GADAR EK PREM KATHA and LAGAAN were simultaneously released, and both were hits. There are other similar examples.

Why are exhibitors averse to films being granted tax-exemption?

– These days, if a state government grants a film tax exemption, it means that the ticket price will reduce by just 9% because that’s the percentage of SGST payable on a ticket. Compared to the amount of exemption, the hassles and follow-up involved in getting the SGST refund from the state government are too much. You must’ve understood that although the cinemas are not allowed to collect the SGST from patrons on tax-free films, they have to pay the SGST to the state exchequer. The state government later refunds the amount of SGST attributable to the tax-free film, to the cinemas from which it was received. This entire process could take a year or even two years.

Does the runaway success of last week’s The Kashmir Files on the one hand and the failure of the big-budgeted and star-cast Radhe Shyam on the other indicate that the star system is falling apart?

– Not at all! The stupendous success of THE KASHMIR FILES in no way means that star-cast films will not run. What it means is that great content may not always need the support of big stars. The failure of RADHE SHYAM underlines the age-old theory that no amount of star value can make up for poor content in a film.

Have the promotion budgets of films reduced because of the huge backlog of films awaiting release?

– Yes and no! That’s because every film producer needs to wait for the promotion of all films slated for release before it to reduce so that his own film’s promotion can create the maximum impact. That is why the window which a film is getting for promotion has reduced. And no, because the producer has to literally struggle and juggle to make his film’s promotion stand out among the promotion of so many other films and web series. That means, more impactful and, often, costly promotion.

Why did Sajid Nadiadwala not release his Bachchhan Paandey on 4th March instead of 18th March? The film would’ve got a longer playing field. By releasing on 18th March, he will get only one week’s clear playing field as RRR is slated for release on 25th March.

– Your suggestion is right but Nadiadwala may have had his reasons to not get BACHCHHAN PAANDEY on 4th March. As you said, 4th March would’ve worked well for him as JHUND, even before release, was not looked at as a tough opposition for BACHCHHAN PANDEY. This week’s RADHE SHYAM and THE KASHMIR FILES would also not have posed tough competition to BP in its second week. In other words, that release strategy would’ve proved bountiful for the film and, to borrow from the title of Sajid Nadiadwala’s own forthcoming film, it would’ve been like both, Eid and Diwali for Nadiadwala or, in other words, KABHI EID KABHI DIWALI. And also, Holi (as it falls on 18th March, he would have got its benefit in the third week).

Why are producers always wary of promoting small films even if they have strong content?

– It will take some years for the mindset of producers to change. Actually, the public likes to make a beeline for star cast films and hence the initial which small films take is generally slow. Since business is mostly about the first two-three weeks, producers fear that if the film’s collections don’t pick up from the second or third day, the huge promotion cost will further increase their losses. Let’s put it this way: in the case of big films, they try to maximise their profits, but for small films, producers tend to minimise their losses right from the word ‘go’.

With the dubbed Hindi version of Valimai having had to bite the dust two weeks back, would it be right to say that the excitement around South films, born out of the stupendous success of Pushpa: The Rise Part 1, has reduced?

– Why just VALIMAI (dubbed)? This week’s RADHE SHYAM is also a South production which has opened to average houses and is carrying dull reports. Although it is not dubbed (it was shot in two languages — Tamil and Hindi), the fact remains that it is a South film.

What does the success of Gangubai Kathiawadi prove?

– It proves three things: that whatever the situation (50% seating capacity in Maharashtra), a good film will run; that Sanjay Leela Bhansali can bring the women audiences to the cinemas in a film which, before release, was thought to be one which would keep the ladies audience away; and that Alia Bhatt does not need the support of a hero to deliver a Rs. 100-crore film!

What is S.S. Rajamouli making after RRR?

– He is committed to directing a Telugu film with Mahesh Babu in the lead role. That should take a year-and-a-half to two years to complete.

What kind of an opening do you predict for The Kashmir Files?

– The opening may be slow because despite a good trailer, the promotion otherwise has not been very impressive.

People these days are often seen discussing more about web series than films. What does this indicate?

– It means that the lockdown has changed the viewing habits of people, to an extent. But in no way does it mean that cinemas are history.

What is the response to the trailer of Bachchhan Paandey?

– People have liked the trailer. On the strength of the response, it can safely be predicted that the initial of Akshay Kumar’s BACHCHHAN PAANDEY will be bumper.

Is it sensible on the part of the producers of Jersey to release it in opposition of KGF Chapter 2 on 12th April?

– So huge is the backlog of unreleased films that for the next few months, one should not ask whether it is sensible for two big films to release on the same day. There is not much option for producers but to release their big films in opposition of one another.

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.

On the one hand, we hear trade people saying that novelty in subject is the need of the hour, and on the other, films like Badhaai Do, with such novel subjects, don’t even take an opening. So then what?

– Novelty in subject does not mean that you can make a film based on a radically different subject and hope that the film will take a flying start. The filmmaker has to also be sure of the audience he is catering to. The dull initial of BADHAAI DO today means that India is still not prepared for films in which the lead actors play gay characters.

Both the big films — Gehraiyaan and Badhaai Do — released today, have extremely bold subjects. While the former abounds in swear words and intimate scenes, the latter has the lead actors playing gay characters. Does that mean, this is the new film language?

– No, it does not mean so. Even now, we have traditional subjects being tackled in films. But yes, what it definitely means is that bolder and bolder films are being attempted. It is just a coincidence that both such films have released on the same day. One more point: if you think, GEHRAIYAAN has the F-word used in abundance, you may not be aware that youngsters in real life today use this word as liberally or almost as liberally as has been depicted in the film. Oftentimes, we forget that our films are a reflection of society.

Most of the producers have announced the new release dates of their films. But the producers of Jersey are silent. Why is it so? Is the film headed for an OTT premiere?

– No, that’s not true. An announcement of the new release date for JERSEY will be made very shortly.