In Mumbai, director Mohit Suri reflected on what his mentor taught him about the way people in India watch movies. During a press call after the release of his latest hit “Saiyaara,” Suri said the biggest lesson is that Indian audiences respond with their bodies, not just their heads.
“People in India don’t watch films with just the mind or the heart,” he told . “When they see a thrilling scene, the applause comes from instinct. A sensual moment stirs a physical reaction. An emotional story makes them cry. When a hero’s dance moves, the crowd gets up and dances too. Those body‑based responses define cinema in our country.”
Suri noted that because Indians are an emotional people, filmmakers should aim to spark those visceral reactions. “That’s how they connect, and that’s how the film feels alive,” he added.
“The numbers confirm this,” Suri continued. “Saiyaara opened with a bang, collecting 21.5 crore in its first week. It outpaced the recent Ajay Devgn‑starrer ‘Son of Sardaar 2.’ The latter, which released a month later to accommodate Saiyaara’s success, earned only about 7.25 crore.”
He pointed out that while “Son of Sardaar 2” couldn’t capture the same momentum due to its delayed release, “Saiyaara” has made a cultural splash similar to what “Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai” did for the millennials or “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” did for Generation X.
Suri’s comments underscore a key takeaway: in Mumbai and beyond, the best Indian movies are those that move audiences physically as well as emotionally. The box‑office verdict for “Saiyaara” confirms that this strategy pays off, setting a new benchmark for new‑era Bollywood cinema.
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