At the recent FICCI BAF Awards, filmmaker Hansal Mehta spoke candidly about the current state of filmmaking and how the perception of success or failure has drastically changed over time. One of the key points he made was about how the industry often relies too much on box office numbers to determine a film’s fate.
“Why do these box office numbers become the determinant for a film’s success or failure? Films monetize their income from various sources over a period of a few years. Who knows that business better than the people who have invested in it? They decide on Friday or Saturday whether a film is a flop or a hit. The label of ‘flop’ sticks with you for life,” Mehta shared, expressing his frustration with the short-sightedness of the industry’s focus on box office numbers in the immediate term.
Mehta continued, explaining that even if a film is labeled as a flop, it doesn’t deter him from his creative journey. He cited his own experience with Shahid, a film that was considered a failure initially but eventually gained critical acclaim and won numerous national awards. “If my film Shahid was a flop, I would proudly say that I made a flop and I’ll continue to make 150 films like that,” he joked, showcasing his passion for filmmaking that goes beyond commercial success.
He also touched upon how the medium has empowered filmmakers, particularly since the shift from traditional film to digital media in 2010. "I never felt budget can be a limiting factor in telling stories. It’s about the discipline of budgeting, and I make sure that the team I work with is trained in that discipline," he said. He underscored that some of the greatest storytellers have told their stories economically, which proves that great filmmaking doesn't necessarily depend on a large budget.
Mehta’s reflection on the current state of storytelling also touches on how the platform and format of the story shape its delivery. “You are a filmmaker; you use your craft to tell stories in a format that allows you to tell that story. If I had made the story of Scam as a feature film, it might have felt incomplete,” he explained. This, he believes, is a result of the increased playing field today, where filmmakers can use various formats and mediums to reach different audiences.
“Now, you can tell any kind of story. The medium, the format, and the audience are all there. The rules of engagement and craft evolve for everyone,” Mehta said, highlighting the growing flexibility in storytelling that is more diverse and dynamic than ever before.