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    ‘This Monster Will Eat You’: Manoj Bajpayee Calls Box Office Obsession ‘Bhasmasura’

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    By Grace Cyril,News18

    Copyright news18

    'This Monster Will Eat You': Manoj Bajpayee Calls Box Office Obsession 'Bhasmasura'

    Manoj Bajpayee, one of India’s most respected actors, has spoken out against the growing focus on box office numbers in the film industry. Bajpayee warns that the obsession with collections can be harmful. He describes it as a “monster” that could end up hurting even the people who created it. His comments come ahead of the release of his upcoming film, Jugnuma, which has already received international acclaim under the title The Fable.
    The ‘Bhasmasura’ of cinema
    Bajpayee, who has successfully navigated both commercial blockbusters and independent cinema, criticised the use of box office performance as a promotional tool. “It’s a monster that is created by the producers themselves, the commercial producers, for their own game. Very soon, this monster is going to eat you up. You have created Bhasmasura. Just wait for the day you are going to put your hand on your own head, and you will be ruined. This has been created by our own successful people, and one day it will eat them up,” he told Hindustan Times.
    According to Bajpayee, equating financial success with artistic merit has been particularly damaging for smaller films. “The small, independent films always experience struggle. Then came a very brief time when OTT had just entered the country, and they were welcoming. But very soon, they changed their stance, and all of them started focusing on mainstream subjects and faces. One feels sad, because I am of the opinion that if you finish independent movement, your cinema will become just a product and nothing more. If the art is taken out, it has no value,” he said.
    Learning from legends
    Bajpayee cited Amitabh Bachchan as an example of a superstar who balanced commercial success with meaningful, smaller projects. “Mr Bachchan has also done a few fabulous (small) films like Abhimaan and Mili. He has done many more. Only Don, after a point, will be boring. He is Mr Bachchan also because of the kind of films he has done earlier in his career,” Bajpayee noted.
    Challenges for independent films and streaming platforms
    The actor also addressed the current environment for independent films and the role of OTT platforms. He highlighted the increasing commercial pressures even on streaming services. “Everyone who is more interested in making commercial films or buying commercial films knows it’s a gamble. It does not pay off that often. The producers and OTT platforms are more interested in putting their money into that film because the gain is huge. Agar ye tukka lag gaya toh bahut paisa aayega. But mostly lagta nahi hai, kuch hi lucky hote hain jinka lagta hai. They are fine with it. But, we are also fine with our own struggles,” he said.
    Upcoming release
    Bajpayee is gearing up for the release of Jugnuma, directed by Raam Reddy. The film, which has received acclaim internationally under the title The Fable, stars Priyanka Bose, Deepak Dobriyal, and Tillotama Shome. It is scheduled to release in Indian theatres on September 12.

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