Box Office Numbers Have Ruined The Industry: Manoj Bajpayee
MUMBAI: The year 2023 witnessed a string of cinematic blockbusters, including Pathaan, Jawan, Gadar 3, and Animal, that not only dominated the box office but also shattered previous records.
However, Manoj Bajpayee expresses regret over the excessive emphasis on a film’s box office performance, arguing that it has stripped cinema of its sanctity.
In an exclusive interview with News18, actor shared his perspective, stating, “I’ve consistently voiced my concerns about the obsession with box office. I firmly believe that it has adversely affected the filmmaking culture in our country. Throwing numbers at people’s faces isn’t the right approach.”
Bajpayee points out that what exacerbates the situation is that “even the audience has started speaking that language” now.
Expanding on this, he noted, “In conversations with them, they suddenly bring up the amount a film has earned. There’s a perception that if a film crosses the Rs 100 crore mark, it’s automatically deemed excellent and qualifies for various accolades in our country.”
Reflecting on his latest film, Joram, which released a week after Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal and Vicky Kaushal’s Sam Bahadur, Bajpayee acknowledged that while Sam Bahadur received critical acclaim and Animal proved to be an instant financial success, Joram, despite earning accolades at international film festivals, didn’t make significant waves at the domestic box office.