Filmmakers, actors need to catch up with audiences, says Ajay Devgn

Actor Ajay Devgn says Hindi cinema is playing catch-up with an increasingly discerning audience that has been exposed to a wider range of international and regional films.

Speaking on the second day of FICCI FRAMES on Wednesday, the actor said filmmakers can no longer assume that formulas that worked in the past will continue to draw audiences.

"I don't think we are reinventing ourselves; we are playing catch-up with the audience's game. We've realised this after the pandemic: the audiences were sitting at home and had consumed international and national cinema.

"When things opened up and we started putting things out, we realised that they've gone far ahead and we need to catch up with them," Devgn said.

The 57-year-old actor said adapting to changing audience expectations has to be a continuous process, as viewers are constantly evolving.

"I do not believe that what has worked until this moment will definitely work tomorrow. So, the way the audience is evolving, it is difficult to catch up, and they are running. So, we've to keep improvising, learning, pushing our boundaries, because they are the smart ones. We can't fool them," he said.

Devgn said this shift is also visible in the box-office performance of films, with audiences increasingly quick to reject movies that fail to meet their expectations.

"Today, numbers will only follow if you've made a good film; otherwise, the numbers will not follow you. Earlier, the numbers would follow in spite of you not making a great film also. But today it (the film) will crash on the second day," he said.

'Making a Hindi film is most difficult'

Devgn also said Hindi filmmakers face the additional challenge of having to appeal to an extremely diverse audience spread across different regions.

"I'm not taking away credit from any other cinema. It is difficult to make films everywhere whether it is international or traditional cinema. But, personally, I feel that making a Hindi film is most difficult because you do not know who your target audience is," he said.

While a Punjabi, Tamil or Telugu film can primarily target audiences in a particular region, Hindi films have to appeal to viewers with different languages, cultural backgrounds and preferences across the country.

"When you make a Punjabi film, Tamil or Telugu film, you know your audience as it is for a certain region. But for a Hindi film to get numbers, things are not the same, as every 80 to 90 km the language and thought process change," Devgn said.

He pointed to the divide between mass and class audiences and the difficulty of creating a film that can connect with both.

"Either one section of the audience likes it or the other doesn't. Even in international cinema, they know their target audience... But here, we must target everybody, and how do you appeal to everyone?" he said.

'Characters work, not sequels'

Devgn, who is awaiting the release of "Drishyam 3", also spoke about what keeps film franchises alive, arguing that audiences return for characters they have grown attached to rather than simply because a previous instalment was successful.

"Sequels don't work, the characters work. If you pick up any sequel, 'Golmaal' or 'Singham', or 'Drishyam', it's Vijay Salgaonkar or a Gopal, or a Singham. When the audiences start investing in the character, then you can make sequels. You can't just make a sequel because you made a great film and it worked. They have to love the character," he said.

The first "Drishyam" released in 2015, followed by "Drishyam 2" in 2022. The third instalment is scheduled to release on October 2.

Written and directed by Abhishek Pathak, "Drishyam 3" will see Devgn return as Vijay Salgaonkar, alongside Tabu, Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta and Rajat Kapoor. Jaideep Ahlawat joins the cast as SP Crime Branch Rajveer Singh Tomar, replacing Akshaye Khanna from the previous films.

Devgn said making the third instalment was particularly challenging because the franchise depends on keeping audiences guessing.

"We've to make sure of the twists and the turns, the shock value, and what Vijay Salgaonkar will do that is unexpected. If the audience knows what is going to happen next, then 'Drishyam' cannot work," he said.

The team, he added, went through four different scripts before settling on the one they felt worked for the franchise.

Devgn said ending the story with the third film was a conscious decision, with the makers seeking to conclude the franchise on a strong note.