In recent times, Indian theatres are seeing a surprising trend. Old movies are back in action. While many new films are failing to bring crowds, re-releases of classics and even recent favorites are filling cinema halls once again.
From timeless gems like ‘Pyaasa’ and ‘Shree 420’ to the nostalgia-filled ’90s entertainers ‘Karan Arjun’ and ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, and even relatively modern films such as ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ and ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’, people are buying tickets to watch them on the big screen again.
On social media, some fans joke that this is proof Bollywood has “run out of fresh ideas.” But filmmaker Anurag Kashyap strongly disagrees.
Speaking to ANI, Kashyap argued that new ideas are not the problem. According to him, writers and directors have plenty of original stories to tell. The real roadblock, he says, comes from producers.
“It’s not like there are no fresh stories,” Kashyap explained. “The biggest problem in our industry is the producers. They are the ones who decide what will work and what won’t. And most of them only want to invest in what they believe will become a guaranteed hit.”
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He added that this mindset often prevents innovative films from being made. “They don’t understand anything new or layered. Writers and directors have a lot they want to explore, but producers rarely take the risk,” Kashyap said.
To make his point, Kashyap brought up the example of the recent sleeper hit ‘Saiyaara’. The film, directed by Mohit Suri and featuring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, became an unexpected success at the box office. But Kashyap revealed that the film’s journey to theatres wasn’t easy.
“Very few people in our industry hold on to their stories no matter what,” he said. “Mohit Suri did that with ‘Saiyaara’. So many producers rejected it. Nobody believed in it. But he didn’t give up. He wanted to make the movie with new actors and in his own way. He suffered for six or seven years, but finally made it. And it worked.”
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According to Kashyap, once a film like ‘Saiyaara’ succeeds, the same producers who earlier said no now suddenly see it as a formula.
“This herd mentality is common in the industry. Everyone starts following what already worked. That’s where the real problem lies,” he remarked.
The filmmaker, known for his bold storytelling and gritty style, also pointed out that very few producers are willing to back unique scripts. He believes this is why audiences keep seeing the same kinds of stories, or why old films are being re-released to fill theatres.
Interestingly, Kashyap himself is moving ahead with a new project. His upcoming film ‘Nishaanchi’ is set in Uttar Pradesh during the early 2000s. The crime drama will mark the debut of Aaishvary Thackeray in a double role, playing twin brothers Babloo and Dabloo. Vedika Pinto will also be seen in an important role.
‘Nishaanchi’ is scheduled to hit cinemas on September 19.