Filmmaker Hansal Mehta responded to the anti-Bollywood sentiment saying “it’s disturbing to say the least”. In the new interview, Hansal also emphasized that things are written on social media platforms with “the support of some of our own colleagues.” Hansal called the Hindi film industry “resilient” and added that “it’s a transitional phase” and “we’ll get out of it”.
Several Hindi films have faced backlash from a section of people this year, leading to their failure at the domestic box office. Films like Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha and Akshay Kumar starrer Raksha Bandhan faced the ‘Bollywood Boycott’ trend earlier this year. Raksha Bandhan’s first collection was around ₹37.50 crore, while Laal Singh Chaddha earned ₹49 crore in seven days at the box office.
Speaking to the Indian Express, Hansal said, “It is disturbing to say the least. Things that are written on social networks, some even secretly and otherwise, with the approval of some of our own colleagues. It’s disturbing, but I also feel like a lot of it is social media as well, very artificial. What happens in this diversion, in this insanity, in our fear, overwhelms us in being able to tell our stories the way we want and make the movies the way we want. It is a transitional phase; we’ll get out of it. It’s a resilient industry.” “It’s important not to lose sight of our core work: That means telling stories, whatever the opposition. Whether your film is outside the propaganda or completely against the propaganda I feel that in trying to serve a certain agenda we have forgotten that we are actually making films for the audience,” he added.
Hansal recently wrapped up the London shoot of his murder mystery film with Kareena Kapoor. She also has an action drama with Karthik Aaryan. The second season of Scam and the web series on Mahatma Gandhi reunites him with Pratik Gandhi.
