The coronavirus pandemic has deprived us of the big-screen entertainment. Yes, it has been nearly five months since cinemas are shut across the country, and the movie-viewing audience has turned towards OTT platforms for their weekly dose of entertainment.
When there is a plethora of shows and films to choose from, why would that not be the case! The good news is that even big stars such as Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, too, have skipped the theatrical route to release their films Laxmi Bomb and Bhuj: The Pride of India, respectively on an OTT platform.
Amid all this, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah wonders what would be the audience’s reaction to a Salman Khan film if it ever gets an OTT release. In an interview with noted film journalist Rajeev Masand, Shah said that he doubts that a Salman-starrer would be reacted to with whistles and claps if it opts for an online release.
He said, “It will be interesting to see what will be the reaction of the audience to a Salman Khan film, the audience that whistles and claps and throws coins at the screen and dances in the aisles… What’ll be their reaction when they watch a movie like that at home, alone, or with their children? Will they behave in the same way? I doubt it.”
Shah further said that the lockdown has inspired a volley of young filmmakers to attempt interesting, novel subjects without worrying about a producer, who hinders their creative process by forcing them to cast actors based on their star value and to use commercial props like a song. “I’m optimistic about the future, and really glad that the monstrous Rs 500 crore budget might be a thing of the past,” he added.
