Janhvi Kapoor Stands by Pushpa 2: Defends Indian Cinema Amid Interstellar IMAX Row

The re-release of Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar in IMAX has been cancelled in India, sparking disappointment among fans. The IMAX slots have been booked for Allu Arjun’s much-anticipated Pushpa 2: The Rule. As a result, Interstellar enthusiasts expressed their frustration online, lamenting the shift in audience preferences and calling it unfair.

In response to the uproar, actress Janhvi Kapoor voiced her support for Pushpa 2. She reacted to an Instagram post by Tatva India, where the headline read, “India doesn’t deserve cinema,’ say fans as Interstellar won’t be released in India, Pushpa 2 gets all IMAX." Janhvi defended the decision, calling out the obsession with Western films over Indian cinema.

Janhvi commented, “Pushpa 2 is also cinema. Why are we so obsessed with idolising the West and running down things that come out of our own country and instantly disqualifying it from being considered as worthy? The same rooted representation and larger-than-life tone other countries appreciate and are fascinated by our cinema for, we ourselves are embarrassed of. Sad."

Her comment sparked a heated debate. A user questioned, “@janhvikapoor don’t you think people should have a choice regarding films, which film they want to watch?" Another commented, “@janhvikapoor yeah, this is the trend right now. People watching Western movies act superior to those who enjoy Bollywood or Indian films."

Pushpa 2: The Rule, featuring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, is one of the most awaited releases. Its wide IMAX booking reflects the excitement surrounding the movie.

The film, directed by Sukumar, hit theatres on December 5, 2024, in multiple languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Bengali. While Pushpa 2 creates waves, the debate over prioritising Indian versus Western cinema continues.