The Hindi film industry has been facing a prolonged rough patch, with only a few notable hits in recent times. Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia attributes this struggle to soaring ticket prices, making it difficult for audiences to frequent theatres. He believes that the South Indian film industry, despite its failures, has been more successful due to regulated ticket pricing and a more traditional producer-driven system.
In a conversation with ANI, Dhulia shared, “South is still good because corporates haven’t entered there. They have made a place in OTT, not much in feature films. There are only old producers there, vahan dosti yaari mein hi kaam hota hai (they work within friends).” He also pointed out that the high ticket rates in Hindi cinema are driving away audiences. “The average capacity of South theatres is 75% but 25% in Hindi, because there is a cap on ticket rates there. You can keep whatever price here. The ticket prices are so high, who will go to watch any film? Traffic is increasing in every city, so people think to skip,” he said.
Dhulia noted that older Hindi films have found success upon re-release due to their lower ticket prices. He explained, “When it’s Cinema Day and ticket prices are slashed to Rs 100, every theatre is full. Films that worked was only because of cheaper ticket prices, including Tumbbad, Sanam Teri Kasam, and Rockstar. These were flops when originally released.” He also criticized multiplex chains, stating, “They are not selling the film’s ticket rate, they are selling the parking, popcorn, tacos and samosa ticket, and films come like an afterthought.”
Memories with Shekhar Kapur and Shah Rukh Khan
Reflecting on his early career, Dhulia recalled working as an assistant to Shekhar Kapur and an amusing incident involving Shah Rukh Khan. He revealed that Kapur was working on a film titled Maut Se Jo Darte Nahi with Shah Rukh Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, and Suniel Shetty before shifting to Hollywood. Dhulia, unfamiliar with a microwave at the time, ended up making terrible tea for Shah Rukh. “Shekhar ji ne kaha, ‘Chai bana de yar.’ Pehli bar maine microwave dekha hota kya hai. Main aapko ’94 ki baat bata raha hu. Phir bhi bahut hi ghatiya si chai maine Shah Rukh ko pilayi thi (Shekhar asked me to make tea. I saw a microwave for the first time. This was 1994. I made a terrible tea for Shah Rukh),” he shared.
The Impact of Irrfan Khan’s Death on His Writing
Dhulia, known for films like Paan Singh Tomar and Haasil, revealed that the passing of actor Irrfan Khan has deeply affected his creative process. He admitted struggling to write complex characters now, as he doubts today’s actors can deliver the same depth. “If he was in the film, I could spread my wings further. I could write an intricate scene knowing that it would be performed by Irrfan. I could make the character and situation more complex, which I can’t now,” he said. He further added, “You know you can write a scene, but the actors won’t be able to do it.”
The filmmaker reflected on their close bond, which began at the National School of Drama (NSD). “His passing away impacted my creativity in everything. He was my friend,” he said.
Dhulia also shared his perspective on the industry’s cutthroat nature. He described Bollywood as an “insecure” space where one must be cautious about expressing vulnerabilities. “You need a lot of good friends here because you can’t open up. If someone expresses weakness to an acquaintance, they might take advantage of it. But whom do you talk to?” he said, adding that even family members may not fully grasp the pressures of the industry.
Return to CID and Other Work Projects
In an exciting development, Dhulia is set to reprise his role as Barbosa in the popular crime investigation series CID. His character, the leader of The Eye Gang, will return after a 6.5-year hiatus to take down the CID bureau.
Known for his critically acclaimed work, Dhulia has left a significant mark on Indian cinema. His directorial Paan Singh Tomar won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 2012, and he gained further recognition for Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster. He also impressed audiences with his acting skills in Gangs of Wasseypur as Ramadhir Singh. With his return to CID and potential new projects in the pipeline, fans can expect more from this seasoned filmmaker.
In a conversation with ANI, Dhulia shared, “South is still good because corporates haven’t entered there. They have made a place in OTT, not much in feature films. There are only old producers there, vahan dosti yaari mein hi kaam hota hai (they work within friends).” He also pointed out that the high ticket rates in Hindi cinema are driving away audiences. “The average capacity of South theatres is 75% but 25% in Hindi, because there is a cap on ticket rates there. You can keep whatever price here. The ticket prices are so high, who will go to watch any film? Traffic is increasing in every city, so people think to skip,” he said.
Dhulia noted that older Hindi films have found success upon re-release due to their lower ticket prices. He explained, “When it’s Cinema Day and ticket prices are slashed to Rs 100, every theatre is full. Films that worked was only because of cheaper ticket prices, including Tumbbad, Sanam Teri Kasam, and Rockstar. These were flops when originally released.” He also criticized multiplex chains, stating, “They are not selling the film’s ticket rate, they are selling the parking, popcorn, tacos and samosa ticket, and films come like an afterthought.”
Memories with Shekhar Kapur and Shah Rukh Khan
Reflecting on his early career, Dhulia recalled working as an assistant to Shekhar Kapur and an amusing incident involving Shah Rukh Khan. He revealed that Kapur was working on a film titled Maut Se Jo Darte Nahi with Shah Rukh Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, and Suniel Shetty before shifting to Hollywood. Dhulia, unfamiliar with a microwave at the time, ended up making terrible tea for Shah Rukh. “Shekhar ji ne kaha, ‘Chai bana de yar.’ Pehli bar maine microwave dekha hota kya hai. Main aapko ’94 ki baat bata raha hu. Phir bhi bahut hi ghatiya si chai maine Shah Rukh ko pilayi thi (Shekhar asked me to make tea. I saw a microwave for the first time. This was 1994. I made a terrible tea for Shah Rukh),” he shared.
The Impact of Irrfan Khan’s Death on His Writing
Dhulia, known for films like Paan Singh Tomar and Haasil, revealed that the passing of actor Irrfan Khan has deeply affected his creative process. He admitted struggling to write complex characters now, as he doubts today’s actors can deliver the same depth. “If he was in the film, I could spread my wings further. I could write an intricate scene knowing that it would be performed by Irrfan. I could make the character and situation more complex, which I can’t now,” he said. He further added, “You know you can write a scene, but the actors won’t be able to do it.”
The filmmaker reflected on their close bond, which began at the National School of Drama (NSD). “His passing away impacted my creativity in everything. He was my friend,” he said.
Dhulia also shared his perspective on the industry’s cutthroat nature. He described Bollywood as an “insecure” space where one must be cautious about expressing vulnerabilities. “You need a lot of good friends here because you can’t open up. If someone expresses weakness to an acquaintance, they might take advantage of it. But whom do you talk to?” he said, adding that even family members may not fully grasp the pressures of the industry.
Return to CID and Other Work Projects
In an exciting development, Dhulia is set to reprise his role as Barbosa in the popular crime investigation series CID. His character, the leader of The Eye Gang, will return after a 6.5-year hiatus to take down the CID bureau.
Known for his critically acclaimed work, Dhulia has left a significant mark on Indian cinema. His directorial Paan Singh Tomar won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 2012, and he gained further recognition for Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster. He also impressed audiences with his acting skills in Gangs of Wasseypur as Ramadhir Singh. With his return to CID and potential new projects in the pipeline, fans can expect more from this seasoned filmmaker.
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