Writers should get their due credit, says Rajkummar Rao

Rajkummar Rao has had a positive innings at the box office with Bareilly Ki Barfi being a success. However, this year some big films didn’t fare well at the ticket counters. Ask him about the possible reasons for their failure, and he says, “There is no formula. You just have to be sincere at what you do, and every film has its own destiny. You can’t really say why it didn’t work. You never know which film strikes a chord with the audience. There is a rule I live by — work sincerely, give all you have and then just move on. You can’t really control box office.”

Talking about writers not getting their due in the industry, the actor says, “Writing is the foundation of a film. You are telling a story written by a writer. So, we have to give due importance to the writer. They are few of the biggest reasons behind the success of a film. I really hope they get their due credit, which they deserve. I think there is some really exciting writing happening these days.”

Offbeat cinema and smallbudget films are gradually gaining prominence, but a lot of content-driven films fail to see the light of day owing to their scale and budget. Ask him about ways that smaller films can adapt to gain exposure, and he says, “You have to plan it smartly. You can’t spend too much money on your P and A (Publicity and Advertising). But you have to have a smart P and A in place. You’ve to make people aware of your film, and then let them decide if they want to see it. Also, there are so many digital platforms now, and you can sell your film to popular streaming channels. There are so many ways to make money these days.”

Are curating more film festivals an option to redeem the situation then? “I wish there are more film festivals. I am so glad that there is the Mumbai film festival, MAMI, which has become one of the biggest festivals. There are amazing films being screened at the festival,” says the Newton actor.

Writing is the foundation of a film. You are telling a story written by a writer. So, we have to give due importance to the writer. RAJKUMMAR RAO, ACTOR