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EXCLUSIVE: Dinesh Vijan on the release of Roohi, Mimi, Shiddat, Hum Do Hamare Do: We owe it to the theatres
After Roohi, the producer is all set to bring three more films - Mimi, Shiddat and Hum Do Hamare Do - on the big screen in 2021
Very few producers in Bollywood braved the pandemic by holding back on to their release slate and one of them is Dinesh Vijan, who has four films up for release this year, with at-least three more slated to go on the floors in 2021. The producer’s next, Roohi, featuring Janhvi Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao and Varun Sharma, is among the first major hindi films to arrive in the cinema halls gearing up for a theatrical release on March 11. Dinesh reveals that the idea is to get the wheel in motion again.
“As Maddock, we have been built by the theatres and large part of our success is owed to them. So, we owe it to the theatres. Last year was bad not just for us, but for the whole world. We feel, Roohi is a film that’s meant to be enjoyed on the big screen and it’s important to get the wheel in motion again. I feel, everyone wants the film to do well,” he shares and promises that even Mimi (Kriti Sanon), Shiddat (Radhika Madan, Sunny Kaushal, Diana Penty, Mohit Raina) and Hum Do Hamare Do (Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao, Paresh Rawal) will release on the big screen in 2021. Prod him on the release date and he replies, “They are all meant for the theatres. Mimi will release sometime in May, Shiddat a couple of months after that. And then, there’s another film called Hum Do Hamare Do, which will arrive towards the year end.”
Mimi will release sometime in May, Shiddat a couple of months after that. And then, there’s another film called Hum Do Hamare Do, which will arrive towards the year end.
Dinesh Vijan
The filmmaker had offers for a direct to digital release from multiple OTT giants. Was he never tempted to unblock his capital by selling off the three existing films – Roohi, Mimi and Shiddat? “Of course, it’s natural to have a thought of selling them off and get the capital unblocked. At one point, we did consider the offers, but then the gut call asked me to hold back on the films for theatres. We had good two years and we could afford to fight this out,” he explains and further adds, “Secondly, we went ahead with what’s correct for the film. It takes a lot to make a good film, and the way these films have shaped up, they are meant for the cinema halls. I owe it to my directors to give them a right release.”
It was a very collaborative meeting with the multiplexes. We must realize that even the multiplexes have suffered due to the lockdown.
Dinesh Vijan
A lot has been spoken about in the media these days with respect to the terms and conditions of releasing a film in cinema halls, with respect to the OTT window, and theatrical share, among other factors. What sort of dynamics are in place for the release of Roohi? Dinesh keeps it short and reveals, “It was a very collaborative meeting with the multiplexes. We must realize that even the multiplexes have suffered due to the lockdown. I was not sitting with them saying ‘We are getting x amount of money and going to OTT if you don’t agree’ but it was more on the lines of ‘we want to release the film in theatres, what’s the best that you can do for me.’ Like I said before, we have been built by the theatres, and if these films run, we will make hopefully even more.”
Meanwhile, Dinesh with his studio partner, Jio Studios is planning to release Roohi in 1500 screens on March 11.
ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Dinesh Vijan opens up about Roohi, Stree 2, Munjha, Bhediya and his horror universe
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