Karan Johar recently expressed disappointment over the lukewarm box office performance of his critically acclaimed film Homebound, starring Vishal Jethwa and Ishaan Khatter.
After a user questioned his “skills” for not being able to “sell” the country’s official Oscar entry, actress Richa Chadha took to her X handle to share her thoughts on the challenges facing independent films.
Richa Chadha Weighs In On Homebound’s Box Office Failure
Responding to a tweet criticising KJo, Richa wrote, “Hmmm… the film got so many shows, precisely because the producer had clout. I think we had fewer shows for Masaan. Each screen, each KDM costs money. Each show costs money. Exhibitors weigh that against literally the number of ppl in the hall that buy samosas. And fewer ppl go because the ticket prices are so high… single screens with affordable pricing have vanished over time.”
“The producer sits with losses for the film LONG after the awards are over, won, actors gain markets and credibility and everyone moves on,” added the Fukrey actress.
According to Richa, “exorbitant ticket prices, the P and A bottleneck, fewer screens and monopoly of a couple of people on the screens” are killing independent films.
What Did Karan Johar Say About Homebound
In a recent interview, the producer discussed Dharma’s new business-first approach. An “upset” Karan said, “I made Homebound, worldwide critically acclaimed, but I can’t say if I’ll take such decisions in the future or not.”
He added that while he wants to focus on artistic films, he also has to prioritise business.
For those unversed, Homebound collected around Rs 3 crore at the box office.