It's a phase, we should focus on films that have done well: Rohit Shetty on performing in Bollywood in 2024

Mumbai, July 24 (PTI) Bollywood films not doing well at the box office this year are just a phase and one should focus on the films that have been successful, says filmmaker Rohit Shetty, who hopes his much-awaited “Singham Again” will make the audience happy.

Apart from small and medium budget films like Laapataa Ladies directed by Kiran Rao, Dinesh Vijan's home production Munjya, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Crew starring Tabu, Ajay Devgns' Shaitaan and Rajkummar Rao's Srikanth, the first half of the year was disastrous for the Hindi film industry with the failure of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Maidaan and Yodha.

But Shetty, known for his big-budget, star-studded blockbusters, is not worried.

“It's a phase that happens every five or six years, where one or two years go wrong in terms of business. For example, we had Pathaan, Jawan, Gadar 2 and Oh My God 2, so it's like the missing time syndrome. So we focus on that, we don't look at the films that did well,” the filmmaker told PTI in an interview.

“For example, Gadar 2 did not generate a turnover of Rs 100 or 200 million, but rather Rs 500 to 600 million and more. We have to focus on the positives. It happens, there are phases. It is a cycle.

After the commercial success of films like Pathaan, Jawan and Gadar 2 last year, many thought that the action genre was going to be the flavour of the season, but Shetty said such assumptions were wrong.

“We very quickly come to the conclusion that only action will work or comedy will not work. You have to look at films individually, regardless of genre. We don't know which film will work, which one won't work, and that's a fact,” he said.

The 50-year-old director is upbeat about “Singham Again”, his next directorial venture with frequent collaborator Ajay Devgn, which hits theatres on November 1 in celebration of Diwali.

“It is a big responsibility. I hope when it happens, it will make everyone happy like 'Sooryavanshi' released in theatres after COVID-19. I hope this one also makes everyone happy. If it happens, then my job is done,” Shetty added.

The upcoming action film is the third film in the Singham series, which began with Singham in 2011 and was followed by Singham Returns in 2014. These films are linked to the plots of 'Sooryavanshi', led by Akshay Kumar and 'Simmba', starring Ranveer Singh.

Shetty, however, is wary of comparisons between his detective world and

and the Avengers movies.

“I can’t compare Singham Again with Avengers. They are too big. Our universe is a cop universe, we have Ajay, Akshay, Ranveer and Kareena and then there are new characters this time. We are trying to work in our world and the way it is presented, I think people will get what they want from Singham Again.

The idea, he said, is to create content that appeals to a broad segment of the audience.

“You have to improve your game every time because the public is very exposed, so you have to be at that level. We have to be at that level,” he said.

In Singham Again, Devgn will reprise his fan-favourite cop character Bajirao Singham and Arjun Kapoor will be seen in the antagonist role. Kareena Kapoor Khan, who played Devgn's love interest in the second part, will be seen in the third part.

Singham Again is the fifth installment in Shetty's crime film universe, which includes Ranveer Singh's Simmba (2018) and Akshay Kumar's Sooryavanshi (2021).

The upcoming film also boasts appearances from stars like Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff and Deepika Padukone.

Shetty, who recently wrapped up shooting for “Singham Again”, said computer-generated imagery in stunts is increasingly becoming an industry norm.

It depends on what kind of action it is. If it's hand-to-hand combat, CGI doesn't work for me. I try to keep it realistic. Other than that, all the stunts we do… CGI is very important because it's safer, easier and more expensive as well. But it's the new thing and you can't be left behind.

Shetty returns as the host of 'Khatron Ke Khiladi' season 14 on Colors TV from July 27.