In the vast and often unpredictable world of Bollywood, films can fail for a myriad of reasons—a weak script, poor direction, or lackluster performances. However, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap recently disclosed one of the most bizarre reasons ever cited for a movie's commercial collapse: the protagonist's hairstyle.
The Shocking Revelation from Audience Research
Anurag Kashyap, known for his critically acclaimed work, faced a significant setback with the 2015 period drama 'Bombay Velvet'. The film, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, was a highly anticipated project that ultimately failed to connect with audiences. In a recent interview, Kashyap revealed that he asked his studio team to conduct research to understand the debacle.
The findings left him stunned. "The shocking thing was, people didn't like Ranbir's hair," Kashyap stated. The research indicated that audiences were put off by Ranbir Kapoor's curled-up hairstyle in the film, a conscious creative choice made by the team. Kashyap found this reasoning absurd, emphasizing that while a film might not work for someone, blaming a character's hair for its box office opening was unprecedented.
Ranbir Kapoor's Aversion to Discussing the Film
In the same conversation, Kashyap shed light on his lead actor's feelings about the film's legacy. He shared that Ranbir Kapoor does not like to talk about 'Bombay Velvet' and is often upset by the constant revisiting of its failure. "He keeps saying, 'Why do you keep talking about Bombay Velvet? Just ignore it,'" Kashyap quoted. However, the director pointed out that as a public figure, he is consistently asked about it, making it difficult to avoid the topic.
The Costly Misstep of Bombay Velvet
Released in 2015, 'Bombay Velvet' was a passion project set in 1960s Bombay. Alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, it featured Karan Johar in a notable antagonist role. The film was a massive financial disaster. Reports indicate it was made on a lavish budget of approximately Rs 115 crore, but its overall box office business barely touched Rs 43.20 crore.
This revelation from Kashyap highlights the often superficial and unpredictable nature of audience reception in the film industry. It serves as a curious case study on how minute details, beyond core cinematic elements, can sometimes be unfairly magnified in the court of public opinion, leading to legends about a film's failure.
