Will Jio Studios remake its Marathi blockbuster, Baipan Bhari Deva, in Hindi, as suggested by you?

– Jio Studios should remake BAIPAN BHARI DEVA not just in Hindi but in several other languages. This story has the potential to work wonders across languages. Remember the Gujarati super-hit, MAIHAR NI CHUNDADI? It was remade in several languages including in Marathi (as MAHERCHI SAADI) and in Rajasthani (BAI CHALI SASARIYE). It did roaring business in many of the languages. BAIPAN BHARI DEVA has the same magic in its subject.

How have today’s Hollywood releases, Oppenheimer and Barbie Doll, taken flying starts? I’m asking this question as many star-cast Bollywood films have been taking lukewarm initials these days.

– More than star names, it is promise of great content, which is selling nowadays. The craze for OPPENHEIMER and BARBIE DOLL had been growing in India since a fortnight. Believe it or not but tickets of Christopher Nolan’s OPPENHEIMER, priced at Rs. 2,500, in Bombay have sold like hotcakes. This means, if the public takes a fancy to a film, no admission rate is too high!!

Will Namit Malhotra be making one film on the Ramayan or will it be a series of films?

– Nobody can do justice to the epic Ramayan in one film. So, I’m sure, it will have to be a series of films.

What has been the public response to the prevue of Jawan, released earlier this week?

– Phenomenal! The opening of the film should be outstanding, going by the craze witnessed for the prevue. People are discussing the prevue, Shah Rukh Khan’s bald pate in it, and what not! After the tremendous response to The Kerala Story, I had expected 72 Hoorain to do well. But it neither took a good opening nor picked up later. Why?

– And just why did you think that 72 HOORAIN would do well? Just because it was about Muslim characters, like THE KERALA STORY was? Well, you probably love to jump to conclusions, that’s the problem. Film business is not mathematics that you can say 2 + 2 = 4.   

You mentioned in your review of Marathi film Baipan Bhari Deva two weeks back that it should be remade in Hindi to reach a larger audience. Will such a film work for the Hindi film-going audience?

– What do you mean by “such a film”? Every film which touches the heart, works for the audience. BAIPAN BHARI DEVA is doing wonders at the Marathi box-office for this very reason. It netted Rs. 12.50 crore in the first week while the second week’s total was Rs. 24.85 crore!! 

What has been the response to the trailer of Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani?

– Fantastic. The trailer has convinced the trade that the film will take a flying start on 28th July.

The entire world seems to be complaining about the high admission rates in multiplexes and the prohibitively high prices of food items and beverages. Are the multiplex owners not bothered?

– Strange as it may sound, the multiplex owners seem to be not bothered at all. They feel (wrongly, I think) that the high admission rates and the expensive food items cannot be the reason for the dwindling footfalls.   

With so much software being produced for the various OTT platforms, how do producers, directors, writers and actors ensure that what they are making is exclusive and that nobody else is making content similar to their own web series or film?

– There is no way one can be sure that nobody else is making similar stuff. One has to just forge ahead with his content and his vision, that’s all.  

Why did Satyaprem Ki Katha not take a very good start yesterday?

– It’s because the film is a love story and a family drama, the feel of which was evident from its trailer (which, incidentally, was loved by the public). It is common knowledge that family dramas and love stories usually don’t open big. Having said that, it must be added that the opening was a bit disappointing considering the fact that yesterday was a holiday for Eid. 

I am a wealthy businessman who now wants to turn a producer too. I’ve signed a National Award-winning director for my first film. Whom should I cast in my film?

– Firstly, your cast will depend upon the script. Secondly, the National Award-winning director may be more interested in making a film for critical acclaim than a box-office winner. That may not go well with your intent to make a commercially viable film. I am assuming that your intention is to make money in film production too, like you’ve made money in your other business/businesses.  

Why are stars paid such hefty fees whereas writers are paid pittance in comparison?

– Because stars are in short supply. Also, because films are sold on the strength of star names, not writers’ names. The public goes to watch films basis the stars in it, not because a particular writer has scripted it.  

Were the mistakes in the content of Adipurush errors in judgement or intentional?

– They were errors in judgement, which could’ve been avoided if the makers had exercised care. But the careless attitude was definitely intentional because they couldn’t have not been aware of them.

What would you term the Rs. 2 crore net collections of Gadar: Ek Prem Katha in the first week of its revival in 2023, two months prior to the release of its sequel?

– Fairly good. Having said that, it must be added that these collections are no indication to the kind of initial the sequel will take on 11th August, 2023. After all, GADAR 2 will come in direct opposition to ANIMAL and OMG 2. 

Will Adipurush ultimately turn out to be a loss-making enterprise?

– Yes, it will. It (all versions combined) may entail a loss of around Rs. 125 crore. For the Hindi version alone, the loss may be Rs. 75 crore. 

How can three big films — Animal, Gadar 2: The Katha Continues and OMG 2 — release in the same (Independence Day) week? Isn’t that suicidal?

– The producers of each of the three films will release their film as they want their film to get the advantage of the Independence Day holiday.

After The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story, will Ajmer 92 also work magic at the box-office?

– One can’t tell till one has seen the film. People watch a film for what it is worth rather than because it is of a particular kind or because it is ‘similar in content’ to earlier hit films.

Are lesser number of films being made these days?

– Yes, it’s true that lesser number of films are being made these days because producers, writers, directors and stars are in a confused state of mind. They don’t know what will work at the ticket windows, and what won’t.   

When will Maidaan release?

– All we know is that MAIDAAN will not release on 23rd June, as was originally scheduled. The new release date has not been announced for the simple reason that it has not been finalised.     

What kind of an opening do you expect Adipurush to take next week?

– Looking to the Hindutva wave sweeping the country, it can safely be assumed that the initial of ADIPURUSH will be bumper. 

Why was Bloody Daddy released on JioCinema this week, and not in cinemas? Is it because most films are falling like nine pins at the turnstiles?

– BLOODY DADDY was made for OTT, not for cinemas. So, it is not as if the release plans were changed after the film was made.  

What ails the distribution and exhibition sectors?

– The arm-twisting tactics adopted by many of the top distributors and multiplex chains of the country. Sometimes, all-India distributors arm-twist owners and controllers, mostly of the single-screen cinemas. At other times, the national multiplex chains are unfair in allotting shows because they are in a commanding position. Invariably, it is the small and medium distributors in the distribution sector, and the single-screen cinemas and non-national multiplex chains in the exhibition sector, which are at the receiving end.

On what basis do programmers allot shows to new films?

– Oftentimes, the allotment is not on scientific basis. Very often, it is on the basis of hunch. But let me tell you, most of the times, the allocation of shows is not the best or the most impartial. 

Why do most films not have good music nowadays?

– The music scene deteriorated mainly because of the tendency of some leading producers to include remixed versions of old Hindi films’ hit songs in new films. Hit songs can be counted on fingertips nowadays. Incidentally, the Phir aur kya chahiye song of this week’s release, ZARA HAT KE ZARA BACH KE, is a hit.  

Will Boney Kapoor’s Maidaan release on June 23, as scheduled?

– Considering that the film’s promotion has hardly begun, and it’s already 26th May today, it doesn’t seem likely that MAIDAAN will hit the screens on the scheduled date. Of course, the producers haven’t officially announced the postponement.   What did you think of the first few posters of Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani?

– They are colourful and give the impression of the film being a star-studded extravaganza.

Should Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai have been released theatrically?

– It could have been released theatrically but the risk would have been huge because its opening would’ve been a big problem.

Now that Fast X has released this week, will it adversely affect the box-office collections of The Kerala Story?

– A running film, that too a super-hit, does not get adversely affected by a new release, however big. Since the third week of the blockbuster THE KERALA STORY commences today, collections are bound to come down, but to blame the decline on the new big Hollywood release, FAST X, would not be right.  

Is controversy the surest formula for a film’s success?

– Not at all! If you are referring to the stupendous success of THE KERALA STORY, perish the thought that it is breaking records only because it is a controversial film. There are countless examples of films failing at the box-office in spite of major controversies surrounding them before release. Controversies help the box-office of a film only if its content is entertaining.

Will Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki hit the screens on Christmas this year? For, if it does, there will be a gap of just three-and-a-half months between Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan and Dunki.

– DUNKI is almost complete and will be comfortably ready for release in the Christmas week this year. JAWAN is slated to hit the screens on 7th September. A gap of three-and-a-half months between the release of the two SRK starrers is good enough, don’t you think so?