‘ FEW TAKERS FOR SMALL FILMS’

Juhi Chawla says the government should help promote unconventional, low-budget films

Juhi Chawla has acted in a number of films in her career. She has starred in blockbusters opposite superstars such as Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, and she has also worked in offbeat, low-budget films such as My Brother… Nikhil (2005) and Jhankaar Beats (2003). However, the actor feels there is a lack of patronage for films that are made on low budgets. “I wish there were more makers and takers for low-budget films,” she says. “Films like I Am (2010), which I co-produced with Onir (film-maker), went on to win the National Award in the best Hindi feature film category for that year. But when it was made and when the makers wanted to release the film in India, they were struggling to find buyers even though it was winning awards at film festivals across the world,” the Bombay Talkies (2013) actor says.

Unconventional or lowbudget films aren’t often aired on many commercial screens, as those are reserved for big-budget commercial movies. Juhi is of the opinion that the government should help tackle the issue and support the industry. She says, “This is a great industry, which I’m sure pays a lot of taxes. The government could put up a chain of theatres that showcase smaller films. These could be low-budget films or art films for people who want to see them, and the tickets could be cheaper than what people pay at multiplexes. I really wish that would happen. It would get many more filmmakers to make good films and enable them to come to the fore.”

This is a great industry, which I’m sure pays a lot of taxes. The government could put up a chain of theatres that showcase smaller films. I really wish that would happen. JUHI CHAWLA, ACTOR