To what would you give more importance in a film — director, story writer or star cast?

– To the story — even more than the story writer. A good story will work even with a lesser star cast and a mediocre director. But not even the best director and/or star cast can do much with a dull story.

What’s changing faster — society or our films?

– Society, for sure. Our films are often a reflection of society. Even otherwise, some things in our films have not changed since donkey’s years.

Will AI (Artificial Intelligence) impact the film industry?

– It will — and there can be no doubt about it. How will it impact? Only time will tell!

How would you rate year 2023 from the box-office point of view?

– Outstanding! To have four of the five all-time biggest blockbusters released this year is no small wonder! 

Why don’t you review web series too?

– I should have the time to watch all of them. Only then can I review them.

What are your predictions for 2024 as far as the box-office is concerned?

– To say that it would match 2023 may be a tall order because 2023 was indeed an exceptionally good year. But let me just say, let’s hope for the best because we have some very exciting films lined up for release.      

Why was the initial of Dunki so unexciting?

– You can’t term the opening unexciting for the simple reason that DUNKI is not an action film which should’ve taken a bumper start. The only other genre which assures a great opening is a love story, that too, if it is eagerly anticipated, stars newcomers and boasts of super-hit music. DUNKI is not that. Frankly, the opening of DUNKI was very good. 

On the one hand, the trade people are saying that Dunki and Salaar should not have clashed. On the other hand, the same trade people feel that cinemas can accommodate two big releases on one day. So what’s right?

– It’s true that cinemas can accommodate two big releases on the same day, but it is also a fact that the optimum number of shows would not be available to either film because of the clash. Had the two films released in two different weeks, the number of shows for each of the films would’ve been optimum. Matters are more difficult because ANIMAL (which has entered its fourth week) had also to be given shows. There is also a Hollywood release — AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM — this week, which had to be accommodated by the cinemas.

Why did single-screen cinemas not open the advance booking counters of Salaar till Wednesday evening?

– Many cinemas didn’t start the plans till late Thursday evening. It’s because there was no clarity on the number of shows which would be allotted to SALAAR (dubbed). While the distributors of DUNKI were insisting on all the four shows, SALAAR (dubbed) wanted at least one or two shows in the single-screen cinemas. The advance booking windows either opened very late on Thursday, only after the matter got resolved. In many cases, the plans just didn’t open.      

What is the kind of feeling you have been getting about Dunki? I ask this question because although I am a fan of Rajkumar Hirani’s films, the trailer of Dunki did not excite me enough.

– Yes, I agree, there are people who haven’t taken much of a fancy for the trailer of DUNKI, but that’s because they’ve probably missed a very important emotion in it. The point which Shah Rukh Khan makes about the Britishers staying in India for a hundred years — without visas — and ruling over us, but now insisting on visas for Indians to enter their country will be met with applause in the film. That’s because the scene will instil in the viewers a sense of avenging the British Raj when the film unfolds on the screen. And that, in all probability, will be a very big emotion which will endear Shah Rukh and the film to the audience.

What is the biggest takeaway from the runaway success of Animal for the trade and for Ranbir Kapoor?

– For the trade, the biggest takeaway is that if the content is good, length is strength. You may recall, the trade was not at all happy about the film’s running time of 3 hours and 23 minutes. Before the film’s release, exhibitors were unhappy as they would have had to start the first show very early and also because there would have to be a restriction on the number of shows due to its unusual length. But the public didn’t complain about the film’s length. For Ranbir Kapoor, the biggest takeaway is that he has become a hero of the masses after this film. Collections of ‘B’ and ‘C’ class centres for the film are of the kind never before seen for a Ranbir Kapoor starrer.

It was assumed for a long time that action films don’t go down well with the multiplex audience. What happened to that theory?

– The theory has been debunked! Sometimes, false theories are propounded, and they do the rounds for so long that they are assumed to be the gospel truth. However, in reality, they become theories only because nobody questioned them. That action films don’t work in multiplexes was one such theory which gained ground because people blindly accepted it. It is only after the stupendous success of films like RRR (dubbed) and K.G.F. CHAPTER 2 (dubbed) that the trade people started questioning the two-decades-long theory. The runaway success of films like PATHAAN, GADAR 2, JAWAN and ANIMAL this year has reiterated the fact that the theory was baseless.     

How was the CBFC so liberal in passing scenes of gruesome violence, swear words and sexual dialogues in Animal?

– The raw violence, four-letter words and sex-laden dialogues were the need of the film’s drama and that is why the CBFC cleared them by giving the film an ‘A’ certificate.

How much must the business have been impacted because of the ‘A’ certificate to Animal? In other words, how much extra business would Animal have done had it been granted a ‘UA’ certificate?

– Its net collections with a ‘UA’ certificate would’ve been around Rs. 50 crore more than they would be now, with an ‘A’ certificate. But please understand one thing: the film’s content is what is driving the business. Had the film been granted a ‘UA’ certificate, the film would have had far less violence, sexual dialogues and foul language. That would’ve reduced the business a great deal. While a section of the ladies and family audience have given the film a thumbs down because of excessive violence, four-letter words and sex-laden dialogues, there is an army of youngsters and masses, which is loving the film because of the content. The benefit (in terms of business) accruing to the film is far more than the disadvantage because of the rejection by a section of the audience. So, the business of the film would’ve been far less without the same content.

What kind of opening do you envisage for Dunki and Salaar (dubbed) on 22nd December?

– Bumper for both the films! 

Why did the producers of Sam Bahadur release it this week in opposition of Animal? Don’t you think, the clash could have been avoided?

– The clash between ANIMAL and SAM BAHADUR could have been avoided and, more importantly, should have been avoided. SAM BAHADUR is the kind of film which needed to be released without any strong opposition. ANIMAL was too formidable an opposition for SAM BAHADUR. And the result of releasing SAM BAHADUR in direct opposition of ANIMAL is there for all to see today. While ANIMAL has opened to bumper houses, the initial of SAM BAHADUR is dull.

How important is Sam Bahadur for Vicky Kaushal’s career?

– Every film is important for the actor who stars in it. Otherwise, why would he sign the film in the first place?

When will The Kerala Story come on OTT? On which OTT platform will it stream?

– No OTT platform has acquired the streaming rights of THE KERALA STORY. All the platforms find it too hot to handle. Therefore, you may not get to watch it on any digital platform. 

How much business will Tiger 3 do in India?

– The all-India net collections will be in the region of Rs. 275 crore. While this may be a good figure per se, it is not up to the mark for a TIGER franchise film. Yes, it is a very profitable venture for Yash Raj Films, but it is definitely a dent on the TIGER franchise because it will do less business at the Indian box-office than the second part of the franchise, viz. TIGER ZINDA HAI did. The net total collections of TZH in India were around Rs. 340 crore.

Why was this week’s Farrey not promoted well enough? After all, it’s a Salman Khan production venture, that too starring his niece, Alizeh.

– It’s weird that so many small films are released theatrically without proper promotion. That seems to have become the trend. FARREY is an addition to that list of films.

Do reviews differ depending upon whether a film is released in the cinemas or on OTT?

– Yes, reviews are bound to differ depending upon whether a film is released theatrically or on OTT. That’s because the audience judge a film differently when it is released in the cinemas and they have to pay to watch it as against when it is streaming on OTT and they don’t have to pay money in that sense of the term. Subscription money for the OTT platform, it is assumed, has been paid in the past and it is for all films and web series on the platform, not for a particular film only. 

Is the pro-Pakistan angle of Tiger 3 the only reason for the lack of approval by a section of the audience?

– Yes, it is one of the several reasons, and a major one at that! Even the pro-Pakistan angle may have worked had the writers and director made a strong foundation for the pro-Pakistan angle. But they seem to have simply assumed that the public would accept it because they (makers) want it that way. Obviously, that could never have happened… and it didn’t happen.

Between Salman Khan’s special appearance in Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, and Shah Rukh Khan’s special appearance in Salman Khan’s Tiger 3, which was the better one?

– Of course, Salman Khan’s special appearance in PATHAAN was far better than Shah Rukh’s special appearance in TIGER 3. That’s largely because the writing in PATHAAN was of a far superior quality. The two scenes of PATHAAN, in which Salman Khan made appearances, were so seamlessly written that they blended beautifully in the film’s drama. Also, the two scenes were outstanding otherwise too. However, the writing of TIGER 3, including that of the Shah Rukh Khan sequence, was half-baked.

What kind of opening do you expect Animal to take on 1st December?

– ANIMAL will, in all likelihood, take a fantastic initial on 1st December.

What are your predictions about the first day’s collections of Tiger 3? Will the opening day’s figure be the highest ever?

– The first day’s figure can’t be the highest ever because the film will release on the day of Diwali (Laxmi pooja). This may be a festive holiday but a lot of public of The Hindu community do not frequent cinemas on that day because they are bust with the festivities which include the Laxmi pooja, visiting family, relatives and friends, bursting crackers, etc. Also, several cinemas suspend a show or two on that day so that their staff members can celebrate the festival (including performing the Laxmi pooja) with their families. Shows suspended translates in to loss of revenue.

Will Vikrant Massey now get offers of commercial films from regular and big banners, after the success of his 12th Fail?

– He should! It will be a tragedy if commercial filmmakers and big producers even now don’t consider him as an actor who can deliver. But, I think, producers will wake up to the fact that he is a fantastic actor.

Why did producer Dinesh Vijan release Sajini Shinde Ka Viral Video in cinemas without any publicity or promotion?

– Yes, you are right. He shouldn’t have released it in cinemas without enough promotion. The film was actually made for OTT release. A theatrical release was an afterthought.

Why has Tiger 3 been planned for release on Sunday (12th November) instead of the usual Friday (10th November)?

– Since the producer’s/distributor’s share is 52.50% (it is assumed that the film will net more than the benchmark figure of Rs. 70.37 crore in the first week and hence the share will be 52.50% instead of 50%) for the first 8 days, the producer must be expecting to make a killing if the film hits the screens on Sunday as Diwali falls on that day. He may be fearing that since Friday and Saturday are pre-Diwali days, collections may not be as massive as on Sunday. Two out of the eight days (of 52.50% share) registering collections which aren’t optimal for a film of the kind of craze which TIGER 3 has generated could translate into a big loss. The amounts receivable from the box-office as producer’s/distributor’s share at the rates of 45% in 2nd week, 37.50% in third week and 30% in and from the fourth week onwards will also be impacted differently if the film is released on Sunday instead of Friday. In other words, it makes sense for the producer to have bumper collections in the earlier days as the percentage share is higher on those days. For a film like TIGER 3, the share could vary to the extent of Rs. 1.50-2 crore or even more depending on whether the film is released on November 10 or 12. And that, you would agree, is not a small amount.

Has business revived post-COVID, in the true sense of the word?

– You bet, it has! We’ve not seen so many blockbusters in one year, have we? JAWAN, GADAR 2, PATHAAN and THE KERALA STORY in one year! And two months still to go! You never know, there just might be two or three more blockbusters in the last two months of the year!

I’m confused. Is it content that works or marketing? I ask this question because I’ve seen several films without merits working big time at the box-office because they were well promoted.

– And who told you that they worked because of promotion? You may not have liked those films but your opinion can’t matter more than the opinions of the lakhs of people who liked the film which therefore became a blockbuster. Promotion can work its magic for one show or a day but what counts thereafter is the content. People often think, if they haven’t liked a film, it is bad. I’d say, their judgement is bad.