Set To Make A Comeback After 4 Years With Pathaan, Shah Rukh Khan Calls OTT ‘Just A Phase’

Ever since the pandemic, the debate on theatres v/s OTT has been never-ending with no conclusive results. While many Bollywood biggies have made peace with the fact that cinemas no longer hold the monopoly in the entertainment business, others are deeming it as just a phase.

When it comes to stardom, the Khans hold the top slots. Despite not giving superhits in the past few years, their loyal fan-following hasn’t diminished. People still have faith that they will bounce back and relive that era when movies would mint in the big numbers at the box office.

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SRK recently shared his take on the debate and stated that he isn’t worried about OTT affecting the box office. In an interview with Deadline at the Red Sea Film Festival, SRK said, 

“Cinema viewing is not going to shut down anytime soon because I have been through these phases, television coming in, ‘oh nobody’s watching movies’, VCR coming in, ‘Nobody’s watching movies.’ It’s been 32 years, I have seen it through. Yes, there’s always a dent, there is a bit of a problem, but cinema changes itself and then comes back and invites people in hordes.”

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He added, “When you go to watch movies in a theatre, it’s an outing. Films and box office have got affected. Because of Covid-19, watching habits have changed. But I think it will all settle down and films will find their space at the box office. Some films will find space on streaming platforms, and some will stick to television.”

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Just a few months ago, Aamir Khan faced a similar situation when his ambitious project Laal Singh Chadha, an Indian adaptation of Forrest Gump, tanked badly at the Box Office. Post which, he was rueful with OTTs for spoiling the theatre business by releasing movies soon on their platforms. 

However, he also said that OTTs will only compliment cinema. In an interview with Gallata Plus, he had said, “OTT is not actually a challenge to the cinema but we are making it a challenge to the cinema. What we are doing is we are saying that we will release our films in theatres but you don’t really need to come because in a few weeks you can see them at home. How do you expect people to come to the theatres? That is the error that according to me the film industry is doing.”

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Aamir Khan also added, “The quicker you go into OTT it doesn’t make sense to me. You need to have a clear demarcation between the platforms. If that is not there then common sense tells you that for economic reasons or bandwidth reasons you cannot have it coming on OTT so fast. If it is coming so fast then cinema doesn’t stand a chance so it’s on our hands. As filmmakers, we have to decide. I make sure that my films don’t come on OTT so fast. The whole industry has to do the same.” 

Post it’s release on Netflix, trade analysts were quick to notice that the film got a second lease of life due to OTTs.

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If we talk about Salman Khan, he seems to be neutral in this regard. When he was asked about his interest in OTTs at an event, he in his own cheeky way, had said that he would definitely come on OTT but as a producer. However, Bhaijaan is all set to make his debut on the small screen with his docu-series Beyond The Star which is expected to drop on his birthday ie Dec 27th.

Docu-series Beyond The Star will not only trace his filmy journey but will also showcase his family, friends, directors and producers dishing out exclusive details about Salman Khan. 

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As for the other Khan who is the lambi race ka ghoda, Saif has no qualms about working in any medium, as long as the project calls out to him. He was the first Bollywood biggie who starred in web series Sacred Games and laid the foundation for others to follow. Since then, he has done several projects and has gained the respect of many as his real acting chops were discovered during his OTT outings.

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Coming back to Shah Rukh Khan, he has a lot riding on his name as he is set to make a comeback on the big screen after four years with the spy action drama Pathaan that also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in major roles. 

Directed by Siddharth Anand, and produced by Yash Raj Films, the film is a part of Aditya Chopra’s ambitious spy universe that also includes the famous Tiger series. The film is expected to release on January 25, 2023.

(To read more such stories related to movies and shows released on OTTs, keep reading universo virtual BINGE)