Over the last two years, the audience has sampled content from various parts of the world and the country. Though Arjun Kapoor’s film Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar starring Parineeti Chopra, got a muted response at the box office, the film was much appreciated post its release in the digital space. The actor feels that such instances show that the audience’s viewing pattern and tastes have changed and evolved during the last two years.

He says, “The pandemic has definitely changed the way movies are being watched — whether they are regional or pan-India films. Today, releasing abroad, it releases here simultaneously. It’s also available on the digital medium, so you can revisit it. Therefore, your scale of action, adventure and storytelling stand improved. As an audience, you absorb a lot more, so you are ready for a lot more, which is where the process of evolution is evident.”

Arjun further elaborates, “Perhaps five years ago, a film like Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar wouldn’t have got the kind of reaction it did even on social media, or it would have been a smaller bunch of people watching it. Today, people are just cine-goers who are not a niche audience. We have a young audience, and it is growing up very fast. Then there is social media, OTT platforms and theatres, which now give you access to regional and world cinema.”

Talking about the kind of cinema that the audience is lapping up today, and the popularity of regional content, which has shown substantial growth during this phase, he says, “Regional cinema has often pushed the envelope. Perhaps, they understand their audience far better, while we (Bollywood) have to appeal to a bigger diaspora, hence it may take us a little bit of time. And so, it is a trial-and-error process. When you talk about regional cinema, the filmmakers there think about their audience first and then build it from there. They are so honest to their audience that others also like the content that they make. There could be some cultural differences among viewers from different regions, and therefore, some stories may appeal to a certain audience more. However, the basic human understanding of behaviour and storytelling remains the same, which is why I feel regional cinema is being appreciated more. The horizon of our audience has broadened, and full credit to them for making us push the envelope and work harder to deliver pan-India films that are entertaining and engaging at the same time.”