Last week we had thread regarding how Telugu movie industry is already hijacking Bollywood after super success of Pushpa in Hindi belt. Then came news of 26th Jan re-release of 'Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo' in Hindi in the theaters. Then we see Trailer of 'Gehraaiyaan' starring reigning queen of Bollywood (most PR operated chamcha's in IF call that) Deepika Padukone along with princess Ananya Pandey. Backed by biggest production house in Bollywood 'Dharma', the movie didn't dare to release in the theaters but opted for direct OTT release. While Telugu industry is ready to RE-RELEASE old movies DUBBED in Hindi, in Hindi belt theaters, the original new Hindi movie is scared to release.
Isn't this Ironical ?
Just two decades ago when same South movies were being dubbed and released in SET MAX everyone laughed upon them for their gravity defying actions, their appearances, etc. Slowly and steadily with advancement of technology, South Industry changed their movie making techniques to meet audiences demand and finally they have nailed it. With success of Babhubaali, KGF, Pushpa in Hindi belts clearly indicates that. The souring number of South remakes in Hindi starring "Selmon Bhai" from Tere Naam to Wanted, Ready, Bodygaurd then Kabir Singh now Jersey also bolsters that South Industry is definitely doing something right and better than Bollywood.
The same Karan Johar who would make faces when talked about South Indian stars just a decade ago, collaborated to release Babhubaali Hindi version and made biggest profit in his life, much more than any of his original Hindi movies. Today he is afraid to even face any Hindi dubbed old Telugu movie that too in Hindi belts.
The production companies have already realized their mistake. Their biggest mistake was to PAY Tens of millions to superficially hyped dumb ass actors who knows nothing about acting. Just based upon Instagram/Facebook followers or Youtube views paying anyone Crores was biggest mistake Bollywood people made. Be it actor or musicians or even singers (Yes, YOYO Honey Singh charged 10 Cr. for Lungi Dance Song, can you believe it ?). Shahid hiked his fees from 3 Cr - 5Cr to 20 - 25 Cr. after Kabir Singh.
Then you have new breed of nepo-kids who would show their insta/fb likes and followers to hike their fees. Even the single film main lead actor charges above 1 Cr, while the a script writer who have been writing scripts for more than 10 - 20 movies never gets above 10 - 20 Lakhs. Same goes for technician crew team.
This kind of model was bound to fail one day. Unfortunately, we had to wait for Pandemic to realize that.
The new model under which a movie is going to be produced in Bollywood will now be with minimum risk (i.e. low production cost) and/or with risk sharing partners. Most movies will now be made to cater to OTT audiences and to sell to OTT/Satellite as you may never know when next variant of Covid will come back again. It would be very difficult for makers to make now MEGA star led theater experience cinema at the moment. It would be difficult to even find financiers to back such big budget movie in current scenario. Think what the financiers of "RRR" might be going through at the moment. Neither can they release on OTT, as no one will be able pay such big price, nor can have limited release. So why not make movies in such a way if we sell to OTT/Satellite then it would at least break even.
If you are going to sell to OTT then you need one of two things;
1. Big Star
2. Good Content
1. If you take BIG STAR then you can't afford their price unless they realize their mistake and cut their price five to ten times down or make them Producer like Akshay Kumar does in most of his movies. That model is still risky as most actors then starts behaving they run the show and can interrupt the maker in every step of movie making which ultimately spoils the movie. As we all know how most Bollywood so called STARS egos and mood swings work.
2. If you have good content, then you have option to take GOOD ACTORS who charges less than super inflated Khans, Hrithik, Ajay, etc and make a good product at minimal budget. This model might work for few years until those new comers becomes known names. Like the case with Ayushman or Rajkumar Rao, Nawaz, Manoj. They used to work for very less money before, but today after few hits films or web shows they are also charging bombs. You can't always go on hunt for new actors for every new movie.
But there is always THIRD OPTION mixing both of the options which is what KJo did with Gehraiyaan.
"Geherahiyaan" has 4 main producers including "KJo & his mother" as usual. Then there is Shakun Batra who is also director of the movie and has always been part of Dharma. So that means no need to pay him separately. Apart from him even Deepika is also producer but her name was dropped from producers credit after "Maal" debacle. So no need to pay her. Now remaining major cast comprises of "Siddhant" the fairly new guy who can act and "Ananya" - the girl who can't act but groomed and launched by KJo. So payment to these two newbies are pretty minimal. Also when you have actors like Siddhant and Deepika you can always mix "a bad apple" like Ananya along with good ones, after all she is in-house grown so expense will be hugely reduced.
Kjo is not just good movie maker, but excellent business man too. He knows how to survive even in pandemic. Soon most Bollywood makers will have to follow this suit if they want to survive this pandemic seasons. else they will have to face debacles like 83, even Sooryavanshi was at most just break even considering interest that needed to be paid over 2 years period. Only positive side was both Rohit and Akshay both were also producers of that movie, so large chunk of remuneration and its interest could be waived. Still Rohit had raised lot of cash from Financiers (most makers do the same) for which he would had to make interest payment.
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