Audiences and critics had wholeheartedly said ‘raazi hoon’ to Meghna Gulzar’s story of an unlikely spy during its opening weekend. And into its third week, ‘Raazi’ – co-produced by Junglee Pictures and Dharma Productions – has crossed the Rs100 crore milestone, never losing its momentum at the box office and becoming the first female-led (non-franchise) film to hit the 100-crore mark. Given a thumbs up by critics, ‘Raazi’s’ popularity grew steadily by word-of-mouth publicity and wholehearted endorsement by not just Bollywood, but by respected names from the administration, the uniformed forces and even from across the border, thanks to its nuanced and humanising portrayal of an Indian spy married into a Pakistani Army family in the run up to the 1971 war. As the reactions started pouring in, cinemas across the country had to increase the screens for ‘Raazi’, as it continued to draw in the crowds through its first week and faced no strong competition into its second and third week.
Making an honest film, sticking to your conviction is always better: Meghna Gulzar
For director Meghna Gulzar, the 100-crore figure is “overwhelming”, but the appreciation for the film is even more special. “When you get the early reactions, you understand ki people will like this film. But liking it this much is a very pleasant surprise,” she says, “And it redeems the faith that you don’t need to sprinkle a film with the known ingredients that make for a — for lack of a better term — massy film. And yet it can be a massy film. I’m just happy with the validation that if you make an honest film, sticking to your conviction, it’s always better. The numbers are overwhelming, of course, but the words that have come in messages, tweets, posts, reviews — that makes an emotional connect for me. And it was very special to do this again with Junglee Pictures; the faith they showed in ‘Talvar’, they replicated so much more strongly. The process has been so gratifying with both Junglee and Dharma, because of the immense faith they put in me, giving me a free hand.”
