Salman Khan says South Indian audiences still don’t accept Bollywood films: ‘Their fans don’t always come to…’

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Salman Khan recently discussed the shifting pan-Indian movie scene, underscoring the need for captivating storylines and acknowledging the hurdles Bollywood encounters when trying to emulate the triumphs of Southern films. At a press conference in Mumbai prior to his upcoming film Sikandar’s release, the star noted the difference in audience reception, commenting, “We watch South films here, but their audiences haven’t reciprocated yet. We go see them, but not all of their fans return the favor.

Salman Khan emphasized that producing big-budget movies comes with great accountability and a rock-solid screenplay. He highlighted the fact that Bollywood actors may demand comparable salaries, but what truly matters is a compelling narrative.

As a devoted admirer, I myself acknowledge that Bollywood isn’t currently churning out such script ideas. However, ventures like the adaptation of Ramayana offer a unique platform for uniting talents across diverse fields.

Salman mentioned that he’s worked closely with numerous Southern film professionals like technicians, directors, and actors for quite some time. Yet, he acknowledged that his movies don’t always reach the same level of popularity in the South because of the intense devotion their local stars inspire among fans.

The actor from Race 3 stated that although people know him and acknowledge him on the streets, it’s difficult to get them to go to theaters in the South. He noted that Southern movies do well in the North because the audience there seeks them out, but the reverse isn’t true yet.

Khan noted that although Northern Indian cinema fans (Bollywood) enthusiastically watch movies starring Southern actors such as Rajinikanth, Ram Charan, and Suriya, the reverse isn’t always true – Southern fans don’t always share the same level of enthusiasm for Bollywood films.

He stressed the need for cooperation among various industries, yet pointed out a challenge: The substantial expenses involved often make it hard to recoup costs because there are only a few theaters available.

He underlined the significance of teamwork between different industries; however, he noted that the large production costs pose difficulties in recouping expenses as there are only a limited number of theaters.

Khan suggested that a significant increase in the number of theaters in India, say between 20,000 and 30,000, could alter the current situation drastically. In this hypothetical scenario, South Indian film stars might be more open to working with their Bollywood counterparts.

In the upcoming scenes, Salman Khan will make his appearance in the movie titled “Sikandar,” directed by AR Murugadoss. This film also features Rashmika Mandanna as the main character. The premiere is set for the big screen on March 30th.

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2025-03-27 16:52