Visfot Producer Sanjay Gupta Says Film Industry Is In ‘Desperate Times’, Claims Re-Release Aren’t Making ‘Huge Difference’
Visfot producer Sanjay Gupta recently opened up about the trend of re-releasing old films in theatres. In a candid interview with Bollywood Bubble, Gupta shared his thoughts on why so many films are making a comeback on the big screen.
According to him, it all comes down to a lack of fresh content in theatres, as the industry is struggling to keep up with the demand for new material.
Sanjay Gupta Says Re-Release Trend Isn’t Helping Much
“The re-releases aren’t making a huge impact,” Gupta said. He explained that while these films might draw some attention, the numbers are not game-changing.
“The audience today is much younger. Many were just kids when these films first came out, and they’re only now catching up. But the stars are the same, and there’s no real brand loyalty like there used to be with classics like Sholay. We’re in desperate times because theatres simply don’t have enough new material. Exhibitors are trying everything,” he added.
Over the past few months, several films, including Rockstar, Laila Majnu, and the Gangs of Wasseypur series, have been re-released in cinemas. Gupta feels that while there’s demand, it doesn’t create the same buzz as when these films were initially released.
On Why Visfot Skipped Theatrical Release & Arrived Directly On OTT
When asked why he didn’t consider releasing Visfot in cinemas given the lack of new content, Gupta was clear. “When Visfot was ready, we felt it was meant to be a big-screen film. It has that cinematic appeal. But it was always intended for OTT. We had contracts in place, so the question of whether it should go to theatres didn’t come up.”
Despite the current wave of re-releases, Gupta remains sceptical about their long-term impact. He mentioned that Rockstar, which originally came out in 2011, started with just eight re-release shows. However, due to demand, it expanded to over 9,000 shows, grossing Rs 7.5 crore. While impressive, it’s still a far cry from the film’s initial Rs 110 crore run.
Similarly, Laila Majnu (2018), starring Triptii Dimri, saw a re-release in August. This time around, it earned double what it made in its original run, totalling around Rs 6.15 crore. Other films like Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein (2001) are also back in theatres, with more set to follow, including Tummbad and Veer-Zaara on September 13.
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