First, Chhichhore. Now, Dream Girl. Does it mean that comedies are in?

– Before these two films, we had MISSION MANGAL which was not a comedy. Other recent successes like SUPER 30 and KABIR SINGH were also not comedies. So there!

Does Ayushmann Khurrana select his films or do the films select him?

– Before Ayushmann Khurrana signed his first film, VICKY DONOR, he rejected several films because they were the usual commercial potboilers. Right from the time he entered films, he had decided to carve his own niche by doing cinema which was content-driven. In fact, this week’s DREAM GIRL seems to be among the few regular commercial films he has worked in.

Will Kick 2 release on Eid next year?

– Far from it! KICK 2 might roll around Eid next year!!

Since it is the producer who green-lights a project, why is it always the director who gets the credit for a hit?

– It is the director who gets the credit because he is the captain of the ship. In the case of a producer who produces several films together, the credit would also have to be given to him if he consistently makes successful films. For, a producer can get lucky once or twice but if he is delivering hit after hit, or success after success, there must be something about his knack of selecting subjects.

Are the producers of Syeraa Narasimha Reddy doing the right thing by releasing their film on 2nd October with War?

– The move of the producers of SYERAA NARASIMHA REDDY has to be interpreted in light of the fact that the film is made in Telugu. Since it is dubbed in Hindi, the primary concern of the producers would not be the dubbed Hindi version, it would rather be the original Telugu version. Besides, since the trailer of the film has been appreciated a great deal, it can’t be a wrong move to release the film on 2nd October in opposition of WAR.

Is there room for the release of three films this Diwali?

– The widest release will be that of HOUSEFULL 4. The other two Diwali films viz. MADE IN CHINA and SAAND KI AANKH will not be as huge releases as HOUSEFULL 4. Of course, three is a bit too many even on Diwali but there have been many Diwalis in the past too, with three films hitting the screens.

How is it that you predicted such huge success for Mission Mangal while many reviewers ran down the film?

— We had been predicting runaway success for MISSION MANGAL right from the time its trailer was out. The film’s trailer had a certain magical quality about it, which is difficult to explain but which could be felt and experienced.

Why will Pehlwaan release on 12th September which is a Thursday?

— PEHLWAAN has been made in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Since the South versions are being released on Thursday (12th September), the makers have decided to release the Hindi version also on Thursday. The producers were keen to have an eight-day first week for the Kannada version as Kichcha Sudeep, one of the two heroes of the film, is a huge star in Kannada cinema.

What did you think of the first digital poster of The Zoya Factor?

— The digital poster of THE ZOYA FACTOR is cute and promises novelty value in the script.

What’s the reason for the slow start of Judgementall Hai Kya and Arjun Patiala this week?

– The trailers of both the films had not found universal acceptance. The trailer of JUDGEMENTALL HAI KYA was too bizarre for people’s liking. The public generally does not go to watch a bizarre film immediately; people wait for the reports to emerge. As for ARJUN PATIALA, the trailer gave away the fact that it was a spoof. People in India are not fans of spoofs.

Has the tax exemption of Super 30 in various states helped its box-office performance?

– Only marginally, because the tax exemption is only of SGST in each state, not the CGST component. Frankly, the central government should exempt CGST on the film all over India.

Why do we refer to cinema of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s as the golden era of cinema?

– It’s human nature to praise the past while looking down upon the present. That could be one reason. The other reason could be because some landmark films like MOTHER INDIA and MUGHAL-E-AZAM were made during this period.

Has Saaho been postponed because of the opposition of Mission Mangal and Batla House on 15th August?

– SAAHO is postponed because its visual effects and computer graphics are taking longer to com­plete.

What is Sooraj Barjatya planning now?

– Sooraj Barjatya is busy with the script and casting of his son’s debut film. It is being written and directed by his younger son, Avnish Barjatya.

Which is the next big film which will hit the screens?

– It will be WAR, starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff. Before that, there’ll be MISSION MANGAL, BATLA HOUSE (both on 15th Aug­ust), SAAHO (on 30th August) and PRASTHANAM (on 20th Septem­ber).