BREAKING: Amid Mastiii 4's FAILURE at box office, Milap Zaveri's take on trolling and bad reviews stands out

The Milap Zaveri directed Mastiii 4 released almost two weeks ago, and given how things looked before release, he was likely expecting a strong run at the box office. After the sleeper success of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, Zaveri seemed confident about taking the franchise forward. The momentum was with him, and the anticipation suggested that Mastiii 4 would bring in a crowd.

Two weeks later, the situation is very different. The film has struggled in theatres and has managed to collect only around Rs 15 crores so far. With Tere Ishk Mein and Gustaakh Ishq dominating screens at the moment, Mastiii 4 has been making under one crore a day over the past few days. At this pace, it may not even touch Rs 20 crores in its lifetime run, making it one of the biggest box office disappointments of the year.

Interestingly, right when Zaveri was enjoying the success and love that came his way after Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, he sat down for an exclusive chat with India Forums. During that conversation, we asked him about something that always stays relevant, whether a film works or not: his reaction to bad reviews, box office numbers and online trolling.

He answered that question with complete honesty.

Reviews and critics are not my priority. For me, the audience is the real critic

- Milap Zaveri (as told to India Forums)

To this, Zaveri said, "When I read reviews and react to them, I try to stay calm and grounded. As far as trollers go, for almost three years I had disabled comments on Instagram because things had become nasty and toxic. When the Duran Duran campaign began, I switched them back on and even then some people continued the same behaviour. But now I feel I have grown a thicker skin. I am older and wiser, so it does not affect me the way it once did.

"Everyone has their point of view. I can only respond to a limited number of people, but whenever I can, I try to reply. I tell them to watch the film and give it a chance. If they still do not like it, that is fine. We can always try to do better the next time. For me, the bottom line is the box office. Only the box office matters. Nothing else does.

"This is a business. We make films for returns. We make films so that we can continue creating more work. All we want is the opportunity to keep making films. We do not do it for the money as much as for the ability to continue doing what we love. I love filmmaking and that is the only thing I truly know.

"So the box office becomes very important. If the films do well, I get another chance to work. I get another opportunity to provide for my family. I get the chance to give them the life they deserve. Because of this, reviews and critics are not my priority. For me, the audience is the real critic. They matter the most.

"Their reactions matter. When they clap at a dialogue or cheer for a scene, that is enough for me. That is my five star review. That is all that truly counts."

Hearing him say this now, when Mastiii 4 is facing a rough run, adds a sharper layer to his words. His clarity about the business side of filmmaking stands out even more. He has always been vocal about the fact that a film’s performance decides the future opportunities for a filmmaker. And in a way, this honesty tells you exactly how he processes both success and failure.

For Zaveri, audience reaction is the only metric worth holding on to. Whether the film brings whistles or silence, that response is what he values the most. And even in a moment like this, when the numbers are not on his side, his earlier words show that he views the process with the same sense of purpose.