Shah Rukh Khan’s Patan Gives Bollywood the much needed boost it desperately needs. Marking Shah Rukh Khan’s return to Bollywood after a four-year hiatus, the film racked up impressive advance bookings, with cinematic videos of cheering audiences circulating on social media. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who watched the film on the first day, expressed his delight and expressed his wish for SRK’s film to do well.
Speaking to Brut, Anurag Kashyap said of the boycott that has gripped the industry for the past two years, “I’m a filmmaker who never got a chance. And I’m still here. My films keep going.” Kashyap elaborated on why Pathaan’s work is important, “For a big film like Pathaan or Bholaa, work is important because the money goes into circulation. Pathaan was successful and the film exhibitors got the money, which gave them courage. It What it does for the audience is, they flood the hall.”
Pathaan braves his own controversy, because the song Besharam Rang came under fire for allegedly insulting the sentiment of the party. In addition, Shah Rukh Khan experienced a personal crisis in 2021 when his son Aryan Khan was arrested in an NCB anti-narcotics operation and later cleared of all charges. Given the vibe and excitement about Pathaan, Kashyap says that such blockbusters are a source of confidence for others in the industry, “It’s empowering. The success of a film empowers the film industry. All of us. It empowers everyone. I Probably won’t make a movie like Pathaan. But I hope Pathaan will work. Shah Rukh’s success is important to me. We exist because of big movies. If you look at different countries in the world, there is no mainstream Masala Cinemas, making movies is very difficult. They don’t have a movie industry, they rely on cultural funds.” He added that India’s biggest advantage is that it has a country obsessed with movies.
Pathaan, directed by Siddharth Anand, is a spy thriller that also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. The film has been screened at 6am and 12:30pm, with viewers following the film on Twitter and expressing their love for Pathaan.
