Producer Dinesh Vijan Responds to Naga Vamsi's 'Bandra and Juhu' Comment, Highlights Success of Hindi Films

The trailer launch of Sky Force in Mumbai turned into a lively discussion, not just about the much-awaited film but also about the future of Indian cinema. The event saw Akshay Kumar and Dinesh Vijan address South Indian producer Naga Vamsi’s remarks about Bollywood. Vamsi had earlier criticized the Hindi film industry, claiming that it only catered to areas like Bandra and Juhu. He went on to praise South Indian films for their massive success both in India and internationally.

When asked about Vamsi’s comment, Dinesh Vijan strongly defended Bollywood. He pointed out that Hindi cinema has seen remarkable success post-pandemic. He highlighted that five Bollywood films had crossed the ?500-crore mark, proving the industry’s resilience. Vijan also mentioned his positive experiences in the South, emphasizing how encouraging the audience there has been.

Maybe we don’t speak a lot about ourselves, but the fact is we’ve had five huge films, and just Maddock Films, just Jio Films are not enough to run the industry.

- Dinesh Vijan

Vijan then called for a shift in perspective, urging the audience to view Indian cinema as a whole rather than dividing it into regional silos. “If we start looking at it as the Indian film industry, it would be 500+800=1300 (crore),” he said, pointing to the combined potential of both Bollywood and South cinema. Akshay Kumar, standing beside him, supported the sentiment and stressed the importance of celebrating the collective success of all Indian films.

The comments were in response to a roundtable discussion hosted by Galatta Plus, where Vamsi discussed the dominance of South Indian films like Baahubali, RRR, Animal, and Jawan. Vamsi argued that these films have redefined Bollywood’s approach to cinema, especially in international markets.

Directed by Sandeep Kewlani and Abhishek Anil Kapur, Sky Force is slated for release on January 24, 2025. The film promises an engaging cinematic experience while adding to the ongoing debate about the future direction of Indian cinema.