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Filmmaker Kabir Khan, whose last film ‘83’ hit theaters three years ago, is returning to big screens with another film based on a true story from the world of sports. The film ‘Chandu Champion’ is based on the real-life story of soldier-turned-para athlete Murlikant Petkar. Kabir Khan opened up about his expectations from the film and how he got depressed after 83’s box office failure.
During an interview with DNA, Kabir Khan revealed that the presence of so much drama in the life of Murlikant Petkar made his job easier as a filmmaker. He said, “The fact that he is hugely dramatic, it makes you sit up and take notice that it is a great advantage. The challenge is to take that drama forward and not let it slip and fall when you are narrating the story of this man.”
Similar to ‘Chandu Champion’, his last movie, 83, was based on a real sports story. It described the path taken by the Indian cricket team during their 1983 World Cup victory. However, the much-awaited movie bombed at the box office because of the lockdowns enforced due to the third wave of Covid-19. Khan remembers, “What happened with 83 is where the strength and conviction of a filmmaker is tested. Having been in this industry for so many years, I know what works for an audience when it is coming from me. So with 83, I will be honest, it was very depressing when it happened. I personally feel that till date, craftwise it was my best film. Then it hit this roadblock where we were not being able to release and when we released, we couldn’t have chosen a worse day.”
The filmmaker acknowledged that the failure of ‘83’ at the box office left him depressed. Kabir revealed that he was depressed about it for around two months and after it was released on an OTT platform, the film received a tsunami of reactions. Nevertheless, the director discovered the fortitude to continue when he considered factors other than the movie’s box office performance.
Kabir Khan shared, “Then, I looked back at my other films and I realised I had forgotten the money my earlier films had made. I only remember the kind of responses I got. That is how 83 will be judged in history. It is one of my most loved films. It’s been four years but I still don’t wake up and not have messages in my phone about 83.”
The director said that logically he should have not picked up another sports biopic like ‘Chandu Champion’ after the failure of ‘83’ at the box office. He then added, “But no! This film gives me goosebumps every time I think about it. It’s compelling me to make this. That is the gut instinct I trusted before, and that is the gut instinct I will stick to and continue.”
Helmed by Kabir Khan, ‘Chandu Champion’ is based on the true story of Murlikant Petkar starring Kartik Aaryan in the lead role along with Bhuvan Arora, Yashpal Sharma, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, and Palak Lalwani. The film will be released in theatres on June 14.
During an interview with DNA, Kabir Khan revealed that the presence of so much drama in the life of Murlikant Petkar made his job easier as a filmmaker. He said, “The fact that he is hugely dramatic, it makes you sit up and take notice that it is a great advantage. The challenge is to take that drama forward and not let it slip and fall when you are narrating the story of this man.”
Similar to ‘Chandu Champion’, his last movie, 83, was based on a real sports story. It described the path taken by the Indian cricket team during their 1983 World Cup victory. However, the much-awaited movie bombed at the box office because of the lockdowns enforced due to the third wave of Covid-19. Khan remembers, “What happened with 83 is where the strength and conviction of a filmmaker is tested. Having been in this industry for so many years, I know what works for an audience when it is coming from me. So with 83, I will be honest, it was very depressing when it happened. I personally feel that till date, craftwise it was my best film. Then it hit this roadblock where we were not being able to release and when we released, we couldn’t have chosen a worse day.”
The filmmaker acknowledged that the failure of ‘83’ at the box office left him depressed. Kabir revealed that he was depressed about it for around two months and after it was released on an OTT platform, the film received a tsunami of reactions. Nevertheless, the director discovered the fortitude to continue when he considered factors other than the movie’s box office performance.
Kabir Khan shared, “Then, I looked back at my other films and I realised I had forgotten the money my earlier films had made. I only remember the kind of responses I got. That is how 83 will be judged in history. It is one of my most loved films. It’s been four years but I still don’t wake up and not have messages in my phone about 83.”
The director said that logically he should have not picked up another sports biopic like ‘Chandu Champion’ after the failure of ‘83’ at the box office. He then added, “But no! This film gives me goosebumps every time I think about it. It’s compelling me to make this. That is the gut instinct I trusted before, and that is the gut instinct I will stick to and continue.”
Helmed by Kabir Khan, ‘Chandu Champion’ is based on the true story of Murlikant Petkar starring Kartik Aaryan in the lead role along with Bhuvan Arora, Yashpal Sharma, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, and Palak Lalwani. The film will be released in theatres on June 14.
Kabir Khan’s ‘sweet’ surprise for Kartik Aaryan on ‘Chandu Champion’ sets
