The long game of cinema

Anubhav Sinha

To an outsider, it may seem that a film's box-office performance weighs heavily on a filmmaker's mind. But Anubhav Sinha insists that a story's commercial outcome is rarely an urgent concern for a director. Sinha, whose last release Assi earned just over R11 crore at the box office, tells mid-day that conversations around money lose relevance with time.

"Years later, it doesn't matter how much money did Satya [1998] or Chandni [1989] or a Lamhe [1991] make. Lamhe was a flop [back then]. But today, it is a hit. Ra.One was a flop in 2011," he says. Today, however, the Shah Rukh Khan-led superhero actioner continues to draw praise, particularly for its visual effects.

(L-R) Kani Kusruti and Taapsee Pannu-starrer ‘Assi' was director Anubhav Sinha's last release

When asked how he feels about every new VFX-heavy film being compared to his directorial, Sinha says, "It's awfully amusing and pleasing. It's a good feeling. Even the VFX of IC814: The Kandahar Hijack [2024] gets appreciated. It was not in your face, but people who understand VFX called me."

Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Ra.One'. Pics/Instagram

Throwing caution to the wind:

Anubhav Sinha's OTT debut, the thriller series ‘IC814: The Kandahar Hijack', based on the 1999 hijack, earned critical acclaim but also sparked controversy over the names of the terrorists in the show. Has it made him more cautious as a storyteller? "No. For some time, maybe, there was fear. But it wasn't mind-altering. You have to be right and truthful," he says.