Bollywood Hungama

EXCLUSIVE: Sabbir Khan reflects on the PRIDE of launching Tiger Shroff, Kriti Sanon, Nidhhi Agerwal: It becomes your GLORY; says mass cinema needs to EVOLVE: It should reach out to maximum people but with intellect. We can't recycle the same tropes

There was a time when Hindi remakes of South Indian films worked well at the box office, despite the original films being available in Hindi-dubbed versions on satellite television or digital platforms. However, the trend changed after the pandemic. During the lockdown, several popular South Indian mass entertainers were widely consumed by audiences. As a result, they were consequently less interested in watching their Hindi remakes. Jersey (2022), starring Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur, was one such film that failed to attract audiences, with the popularity of the original's Hindi-dubbed version being seen as one of the reasons. Another film that falls into this category is Nikamma (2022). Directed by Sabbir Khan and starring Shilpa Shetty, Abhimanyu Dassani and Shirley Setia, it was a remake of the 2017 Telugu film Middle Class Abbayi. Its shoot commenced in 2019, and had it been released before the Covid restrictions kicked in in March 2020, Nikamma might have had a chance to work in cinemas. However, by the time it finally arrived in theatres on June 17, 2022, audience preferences had changed considerably. As a result, the film's box office performance was abysmal. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Sabbir Khan was asked about the film's failure. When we remarked that Nikamma might have had a better chance at the box office had it released before the lockdown, the director replied, Exactly, I was going to tell you the same thing. It was conceptualized and made at a different time. The two-year lockdown period changed everybody's viewing patterns and intake of what they want to watch. He added, Not just Nikamma, that entire year, most films didn't do well. People at that time were just not interested in going to cinemas. Moreover, there was this whole thing against Bollywood. That is carrying forward even today. It's going to take a little time to structure back. I am hopeful that the films coming out now will be made by filmmakers who have understood that audiences no longer want to watch mediocre content. They have learned their lesson and will aim to deliver their best. They have learned that the audience doesn't want to see a mediocre film. So, they'll aim to make the best. Sabbir Khan began his directorial career with Kambakkht Ishq (2009), which was an average grosser, though its songs are remembered fondly even today. 'Bebo', in particular, continues to be popular on Instagram Reels. His next film, Heropanti (2014), marked the Bollywood debut of Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon, and both became instantly popular with the youth. His 2017 film Munna Michael marked the debut of Nidhhi Agerwal, who later made a mark in Tamil and Telugu cinema. In a recent interview, Kriti Sanon also fondly remembered Sabbir Khan and revealed that he had sent her a long, lovely message after watching her in Cocktail 2 (2026). We asked Sabbir Khan about his experience of launching actors who went on to become popular and the secret behind spotting promising newcomers. He replied, Since my first film Kambakkht Ishq, I have had it in my mind that there has to be a mix. That is, you have to work with people who know their job. At the same time, you have to introduce newcomers, be it actors or technicians. That becomes your glory in so many ways, as you are pushing newer talent. If nobody is going to do that, imagine the state we are going to be in. There are only a handful of stars and popular actors, and we are constantly seeing only them. Whenever something new is attempted, it might not necessarily do too well in the beginning, but you are excited about the potential that he or she has. People may say, This is a great actor, and if there's a better film, he or she will do well. He added, Also, there are so many new actors whom we see in series or films; they have so much potential. Sabbir has worked with Tiger Shroff in three films Heropanti, Baaghi (2016) and Munna Michael. When asked whether he is still in touch with the actor, Sabbir replied, Tiger and I are always in touch. We always speak and take each other's advice. He's like family only now. With Heropanti and Baaghi, Sabbir Khan proved that he understands mass cinema well. However, he believes that the definition of mass cinema has changed over the years. He explained, The current crop of filmmakers and the filmmakers who are coming up should understand what mass actually means. What mass meant 10 years ago or 5 years ago is different from what it means today. That mass audience is now much more educated and has exposure to social media. They are aware of almost everything that's happening in the world. Hence, our mass cinema should reflect that. It should reach out to maximum people but with intellect. We can't recycle the same tropes; it won't work. Finally, when asked about his upcoming projects, Sabbir Khan said, I am back in the writing room and working on a couple of exciting story ideas. Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Sabbir Khan reveals why Adbhut is a RARE film to premiere on TV before arriving on OTT; explains how his supernatural thriller got a U/A certificate: You can watch it with your family without having to CRINGE