By - Amit kumaR Agarwal
Perception is what Bollywood is about - this make-believe world is, more often than not - operating under illusions. Is that the reason why the success rate of films is a mere 7%.
This article and video of Anubhav Sinha today, in the highest circulated English daily in the world, proves yet again - how media-reports change the perception of the film.
When I reported in 2011 while writing for a newspaper that Ra.One bombed at the BO, my editor asked me, "isn't the film a hit; everyone is calling it so"
"So", I answered, "mam, everyone knows about advertorials, PR and other activities, the film being called a hit is just a PR gimmick, because earlier Billu and My Name Is Khan too were flops".
But the perception was built; even today when I tell people that post-2007 only hits Shahrukh has delivered are all with Deepika - OSO, Chennai Express, Happy New Year, Pathan and Jawan - you can count them on fingers.
Another similar film that was perceived to be a hit was, "Gangs of Wasseypur" - in fact there are so many films that media referred to as hits, doling four or five stars to yawn-yarns.
Yes, these media-made hits are - 'are' because, media still propels films like O Romeo and Assi - doling out three or four stars to these turkeys - these 'perceived successes' are the reason for Hindi cinema churning out flops.
Thankfully, Anubhav now acknowledges that Ra.One failed at the BO.