Despite the lukewarm box office response to Chandu Champion, filmmaker Kabir Khan remains proud of his work. The film, starring Kartik Aaryan, failed to meet expectations at the box office, but Kabir emphasizes that he is more concerned with the lasting impact of his films and the love they receive from audiences over time.
In an interview with Mid-day after representing Chandu Champion at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM), Kabir spoke candidly about the film’s performance. He acknowledged that box office figures are important but stressed that they are not the sole measure of a film’s success.
“Any filmmaker who says that box office doesn’t matter is not speaking the truth; it does. But it’s not the only parameter to judge a film. The most important for me is how much the film is remembered and spoken about, after some time passes. With Chandu Champion now and 83 (2021) earlier, there have been repeat viewings on OTT,” Kabir stated. He further explained that the repeat viewings on streaming platforms indicate the lasting legacy of a film and how it stays in people’s memories.
Kabir also shared his experiences with his earlier film, Kabul Express (2006), which had a modest box office performance but continues to be appreciated by audiences nearly two decades later. “People kept going back to the film. That shows a film’s legacy and how long it stays in people’s memory,” he added.
Released on June 14, Chandu Champion opened with ₹5.40 crore on its first day and saw a 45% growth on its second day, earning ₹7.70 crore. Despite the underwhelming box office numbers, Kabir and Kartik Aaryan were recognized at the recent Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, where they won the Best Director and Best Actor awards, respectively. Kabir expressed that the award was particularly meaningful as it was decided by an international jury of celebrated filmmakers and critics, providing a sense of validation for the film.
Chandu Champion is a biopic of Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medalist. Born on November 1, 1944, in Maharashtra, Petkar excelled in multiple sports, including wrestling and hockey. The film explores the various phases and challenges of his life and marks Kartik Aaryan’s first collaboration with Kabir Khan. The film is jointly produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Kabir Khan.
Sources By Agencies
