‘An actor with 40 films can’t sleep due to Saiyaara success,’ reveals trade expert Komal Nahta talking about how insecure stars are: ‘I said the film is a blockbuster, he got up and left’ | Hindi Movie News

‘Saiyaara’ left the industry in shock and surprise as the film had some unexpected opening day numbers along with a weekend which was much more than many big releases. The film starring newcomers Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday directed by Mohit Suri has now crossed Rs 300 crore at the box office. Of course, this is a huge reference point for the industry that has been struggling to get box office numbers. Talking about the success of ‘Saiyaara’, veteran film journalist and trade analyst Komal Nahta had penned a long article. In this, he stated how an actor with 40 films was feeling insecure about the success of this film with newcomers. He had stated in his article on Film Information, “One actor, with more than 40 films to his credit, actually told his colleague that he was finding it difficult to get even his forty winks, leave alone a good night’s sleep. And just why? Because the opening day’s expected figures for Saiyaara, being tossed around in trade circles, are giving him palpitations. If a rank newcomer’s film can expect to open so big, where does it leave his stardom, feels this in-demand hero. Another relatively newer hero is said to be ringing up his current producers to find out whether the advance booking is genuine or not. After the trend of a couple of producers to bulk-book tickets in advance to paint a rosy picture of their films, it is quite the norm in trade circles to ask whether the box-office figures are genuine or inflated.”

Now he has opened up more on it in another interview. Speaking in a chat with Faridoon Shahryar, he was asked, ‘you wrote about an article of a 40-year old actor being insecure’. Reacting to it, Nahta explained, “I didn’t take the actor’s name so as not to embarrass them. But whatever I wrote, that he is spending sleepless nights, that he is constantly on calls asking if the numbers are accurate, every word of that article is genuine, I swear. The only thing false is the number of films the actor did. I wrote, an actor with 40 films, but actually, he’s done just 22 films. I wrote it just to save him from embarassment.” Reflecting further on a party encounter with an actor, Nahta said, “I wrote the article not to make fun of that person, but just to tell the world how insecure this industry really is. Even an established star can become insecure because of a newcomer. They have to remember that they were also newcomers once upon a time, they shouldn’t be nervous; there’s enough space for everyone. I was at Bhushan Kumar’s party, and one of his stars asked me about ‘Saiyaara’. I told him that it’s a blockbuster. He got up and left. Bhushan ji told me ‘aapne uska chehra nahi dekha’.”Nahta also revealed the industry’s tendency to focus on criticism during weekly phone calls with directors and producers. “Stars are the most insecure community. I get phone calls from directors and producers on Fridays, and all that everybody wants to hear is that the ‘new film in theatres isn’t any good’. If I praise the film, they excuse themselves, but if I criticise it, they have a long conversation. At least 20 people called me after Saiyaara, and expressed shock about its opening. But I told them that it was guaranteed; they weren’t paying enough attention to the promotions,” he shared.He further added that this kind of negativity in the industry is not good. People are shocked to see the film’s opening but couldn’t they see that every song from the film, the trailer, it all got good praise and people were waiting to see the film. ‘Saiyaara’ has now crossed Rs 300 crore at the box office.