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.

After watching the trailer of Gangubai Kathiawadi, do you think, it will take a good start?

– It will take a flying start. Among other things, Alia Bhatt’s superb portrayal of the character will soon become a talking point, now that the trailer has been released.

Why are the makers of RRR constantly changing their release date?

– There are a hundred points to be considered when there’s as big a film involved as RRR. Even for small films, getting an appropriate release date can often be a challenge. Times are such that one doesn’t know when complete normalcy will return, making the task of finalising a release date even more difficult.

The new release dates of films like RRR, Radhe Shyam, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Attack (now retitled Attack – Part 1), The Kashmir Files and Jhund have been announced. However, there is no release date for Jersey as yet. Also, Yash Raj Films has not announced the new release dates for Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Shamshera and Prithviraj as yet. Why?

– Probably, the producers of JERSEY, JAYESHBHAI JORDAAR, SHAMSHERA and PRITHVIRAJ are waiting for a clearer picture (as far as cinema shows and other release dates are concerned) to emerge before they finalise their release dates.

Which will be the first major release in cinemas, now that cinemas in Delhi have reopened?

– Perhaps, BADHAAI DO, starring Rajkumar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar and produced by Junglee Pictures. It was announced for release on 11th February, and luck seems to be favouring the producers.

Will Kichcha Sudeepa’s Vikrant Rona (dubbed) release on 24th February?

– No, it has been postponed. There is no new release date as yet.

What do you think of the clash of RRR and Bachchan Pandey on 18th March?

– As of now, both the films seem likely to be set to clash at the box-office on 18th March. Here, the comment made by Farhad Samji, director of BACHCHAN PANDEY, is worth reproducing. Says he, “I know, one should not take panga with RRR (Rajamouli, Rajkumar Hirani and Rohit Shetty) but we have no alternative. Therefore, we will be going ahead with releasing our film on 18th March.”

What did you think of the trailer of Karan Johar and Viacom18’s Gehraiyaan?

– Bold and beautiful!

Is it a good idea to release the Hindi dubbed version of Allu Arjun’s Telugu film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo in North India on 26th January in the wake of the success of the star’s Pushpa: The Rise Part 1 in Hindi (dubbed)?

– The film’s release has been postponed. The new release date is not yet known. But to answer your question, it was a good idea to encash on the success of PUSHPA (dubbed) but not such a good idea to release ALA VAIKUNTHAPURRAMULOO with the same title as it is difficult to pronounce and its meaning is impossible for the Hindi-speaking audience to understand. Also, the film needed proper pre-release promotion. So, it is good that the film has been postponed.

When will Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi release now?

– Maybe on the same date, 18th February. The producers just might be able to release it on schedule if things on the Coronavirus front improve in India. Basically, if cinemas in Delhi reopen, the producers might think in terms of releasing it on 18th February itself instead of postponing it.

Is it true that S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR will now release in June?

– Not true. No decision regarding the new release date of RRR has yet been taken by its producers. Hence, any news about the fresh release date is nothing but speculation!

When box-office collections of films are accessible to all in today’s times, why is there so much variation in people’s interpretation of hits and flops?

– Statistics can be interpreted in not just one way but in different ways. Producers and those connected with the film will always try to project that their film is a hit by even misrepresenting box-office figures when the need arises, and that is understandable because the film is their baby. Also, if you are talking about different journalists using the same box-office figures to arrive at the status of a film (flop, debacle, hit, super-hit, average, above average, etc.) and yet differing in their interpretations, you should know that availability of factual data is one thing and interpretation of that data is quite another thing. You will be surprised to know that more than 90% of the media and even more than 50% of the trade people do not understand the difference between gross collections, net collections, distributor’s shares, etc.

Who in the film trade are the ones who have been the most badly hit by the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus?

– Of the three sectors, it is the exhibition sector which has been most badly hit because the release of new films has almost come to a halt. Producers and distributors, whose films were due for release in January and February, are also very adversely affected due to the last-minute postponements and the uncertainty factor. If you talk of one distributor, it must probably be Pen Marudhar Cine Entertainment which is the most affected. That’s because it was to release four films from December last year to February this year. Of those films, while three (JERSEY, RRR and ATTACK) stand postponed because of the Omicron variant and the consequent restrictions on cinemas across India, the release of the fourth, GANGUBAI KATHIAWADI, on 18th February, is still uncertain.

Will Prithviraj also be postponed?

– Your guess is as good as ours. No producer will release his film till there’s a semblance of normalcy.

To what do you explain the phenomenal collections of Pushpa: The Rise Part 1 (dubbed)?

– To its phenomenal content and to the phenomenal word of mouth.

What does Spider-Man: No Way Home surpassing the business of Sooryavanshi and emerging as the highest grosser of 2021 indicate?

– That satellite channels and digital platforms have blurred the lines between the film industries of the world.

When is Jersey likely to release now? Will it be premiered on OTT?

– The new date of release hasn’t been finalised as nobody knows when the situation will improve and when cinemas in Delhi will reopen. Besides, there’s also the additional point that cinemas in other states should not be ordered to shut down! As for an OTT premiere, it doesn’t seem like the producers of JERSEY are thinking in those terms.

Which has been the most successful feature film premiered on OTT during the lockdown?

– Undoubtedly, SHERSHAAH.

With the release of Jersey this week cancelled, which films will stand to gain the most?

– The two reigning super-hits will stand to gain from the cancellation of JERSEY release. They are PUSHPA (dubbed) and SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME. 83 will benefit in the big cities and the national multiplex chains because it is doing very well there.

Isn’t it surprising that the dubbed Hindi version of Pushpa is doing so well?

– You would not ask this question if you had seen the film. It deserves to do hit business because it is a wonderful film. If what you mean is that Allu Arjun is not a known face among the Hindi film-going audience, there are two points: one, content is of primary importance, and secondly, Allu Arjun is already popular among a large chunk of the Hindi film-going audience because his starrers (Telugu and Hindi dubbed), beamed on satellite channels, have wide viewership.

What is more important in a film, from the box-office point of view — romance, hit music, comedy or drama?

– You cannot grade these ingredients of a commercial hit, based on their importance. Every ingredient is important, and which ingredient is more important than the other/s depends on the kind of script. You have forgotten to mention actors’ performances, background music, camerawork, emotions, etc.

Like the acceptability of stars of South Indian language films is growing in states other than the Southern states, will the acceptability of Hindi film stars also grow in the South circuits?

– Yes, it will. Satellite TV channels and digital platforms will go a long way in blurring the dividing lines between stars on the basis of the language in which their films are made.

How did you predict, in your article, ‘New Spidey Film All Set For Phenomenal Start’ on 12th December, that the opening day’s collections of Hollywood film Spider-Man: No Way Home could be better than the first day’s collections of Sooryavanshi?

– It wasn’t difficult to see the craze for the film all around. The SPIDER-MAN franchise is huge, very huge.

What explains the wonderful opening of Pushpa: The Rise Part 1 (dubbed) today?

– The public had loved the film’s trailers and the songs. Besides, Allu Arjun is a hot favourite of the Hindi cinema-going audience too, thanks to his films on various satellite channels.

After the phenomenal start of Spider-Man: No Way Home and Pushpa: The Rise Part 1 this week, will 83 open well next week?

– You bet. Not well, 83 will open to extraordinary houses next week!

Is it a sensible move to release Jersey just a week after 83? After all, both are cricket films.

– You are probably asking this question because both hold a lot of promise. While it is a fact that both are cricket films, JERSEY can be described more as a family drama set against the backdrop of cricket. Yet, it is not the wisest move to release JERSEY a week after 83, also because it may become difficult for JERSEY to get good single-screen cinemas at many places. This is because the best single-screen cinemas will be booked by 83 for a minimum of two weeks.

What’s your opinion on the trailer of S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR?

– In one word, it is mind-blowing!

Why would Ajay Devgan have made a film like Velle?

– Perhaps, to oblige friend Sunny Deol. The film stars Sunny’s son, Karan Deol.