Manoj Bajpayee takes a stand against box office hype: 'Joram' deserved better

Manoj Bajpayee, renowned Bollywood actor, recently shed light on the impact of Ranbir Kapoor's 'Animal' release on the box office performance of his latest venture, 'Joram.' In an interview with News18, Bajpayee voiced his concerns about the growing emphasis on box office numbers, asserting that this trend has transformed directors and producers into money-centric individuals.

Known for his outspoken views against the box office obsession, Bajpayee stated, "I’ve always spoken against the obsession with box office. I’ve always believed that it has ruined the culture of filmmaking in our country. Numbers being thrown at people’s faces isn’t the right thing to do."

Despite 'Joram' earning acclaim at various international film festivals, it struggled to capture attention at the domestic box office. Bajpayee acknowledged the looming presence of big-budget films like 'Animal' and 'Sam Bahadur' but emphasized the financial constraints faced by 'Joram.' 

He explained, "We couldn’t afford to spend that much money on our film because 'Joram' was a different kind of film, and we could only allot a certain amount of money to promote and publicise it."

Bajpayee delved into the detrimental impact of the pursuit of record-breaking numbers on the authenticity of cinema. Expressing disappointment, he remarked on how audiences have started adopting a language centered around a film's box office success. "In a conversation with them, they’ll suddenly quote the amount that a film has made. They feel that if a film has collected Rs 100 crore or above, it’s a very good film and that it qualifies for all kinds of honours in this country," he elaborated.

For the unversed, the film features a talented ensemble cast, including Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Rajshri Deshpande, Tannishtha Chatterjee, and Smita Tambe.