'Everyone is confused': Kalki discusses Bollywood's box-office struggles
What's the story
Actor Kalki Koechlin recently spoke to Bollywood Hungama about her upcoming international film Her Song. During the conversation, she also discussed the declining box office performance of Hindi films and the oversaturation of content on OTT platforms. She believes that both issues stem from a lack of time and care in creating content, which has led to confusion among audiences about what to watch.
Box office struggles
'Nobody knows what's going on'
Koechlin said, "Everyone is confused. Nobody knows what's going on." "I know the last couple of years, actually, have been difficult for everybody, whether you are an actor, crew member or technician." "Everybody has been out of work. From the successful actors to the spot boys, everybody has been feeling the pinch."
OTT impact
'We have put everything on our phones'
Koechlin believes that the decline in box office performance is due to a heavy reliance on OTT platforms. She said, "I think it is a combination of things. First, we have put everything on our phones." "Nobody is going to the cinemas, especially after COVID happened and everybody was forced to stay at home." "Everybody just got into the habit of watching everything on screen online."
Content oversaturation
'So much content that you just feel confused'
Koechlin also feels that the current OTT landscape is suffering due to an oversaturation of content. She said, "I can just speak for myself personally. I just feel that there is so much content that you just feel confused about what to watch." "I think it has to do with how rushed everything is made. I have witnessed shows being made in a rush."
Creative process
'Platforms need to respect that and give creators freedom'
Koechlin stressed the importance of giving writers and creators the time they need to make quality content. She said, "I just think that a good show or good film takes time to get created properly." "I hope those who are investing will understand that nothing can replace the actual work of the writer and the director." "A lot of times, people create a show based on the cast and concept."
New role
Koechlin's upcoming project: 'Bhay - The Gaurav Tiwari Story'
Koechlin also shared details about her upcoming Hindi project, Bhay - The Gaurav Tiwari Story, an Amazon MX Player show releasing this month. The series is based on the mysterious death of a real ghost hunter named Gaurav Tiwari. Koechlin plays a writer in the show and said, "If you go to YouTube, you will see a lot of videos of Gaurav Tiwari about what he was doing."