Last month, Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar-starrer The Lady Killer was reported to have hit the theatres as an “unfinished film” within five days of the trailer release. Director Ajay Bahl later clarified that his ‘confirmation’ that the film was released as incomplete was to be taken in jest, and that it was indeed “a complete film”. However, reportedly, only 293 tickets were sold on day one and showed on an appallingly low number of screens.

Shastry Viruddh Shastry and Hukus Bukus, starring Paresh Rawal and Darsheel Safary in the lead, respectively, dropped in theatres last month sans any promotions — meeting a similar fate.

The most obvious reason, notes trade analyst Atul Mohan, is that producers lock OTT deals very early on, which forces them to release films in an as-is state. “If they don’t deliver the film on time, the deal would get cancelled. Time se shoot nahin hua hoga aur overbudget ho gaya hoga, so makers might not want to put in more money. Agar usey Rs. 5 milna hai and Rs. 4 kharch ho chuka hai toh promotion vagerah mein nuksaan ho jayega,” says Mohan.

Stating that makers run out of funds and have to abandon projects midway and release them in a half-baked state, film expert Omar Qureshi says: “After the pandemic, a lot of indie makers ran out of funds and the confidence of their financier real fast. It was tragic for Hukus Bukus and Shastry Viruddh Shastry. There should be more support from state governments to incentivize filmmakers with smaller budgets.”

To makers, it might appear lucrative to salvage costs through such rushed releases, but trade analyst and producer Girish Johar alerts that it is a worrying trend. “Everything is getting wasted — the cast, technicians, even producers. Everyone is losing. Producers not taking it seriously and releasing films half-heartedly raises questions about credibility and loss of faith among the audience,” opines Johar.

But exhibitor Akshaye Rathi feels that the trend is “circumstantial”. “Producers run out of finances midway or post production. Only one out of 100 films has a fate like that. It could be the availability or the dates of the star involved or disputes between the producers and directors,” he explains.

Hukus Bukus - Rs. 4 lakh

The Lady Killer - Rs. 1 lakh

Shastry Viruddh Shastry - Rs. 6 lakh

It’s difficult to imagine the boy who effortlessly played Ishaan Awasthi in Taare Zameen Par (2007) as anyone else. He has moved on, and so must we. Darsheel Safary—26 now—was last seen in Kutch Express and Ho Jaa Mukht and has been roped in the sports drama Hukus Bukus.

Directed by Mahesh Bhatt’s protégé, Vinay Bhardwaj, the film is cricket-centric and explores the dynamics between a father and son. “Hukus Bukus is a captivating blend of spirituality, cricket, and the breathtaking landscapes of Kashmir,” says the actor, who plays the character of Arjun in the film.

“I am an ardent fan of Sachin Tendulkar, just like my character. Arjun’s journey in the film is a rollercoaster ride of dreams, passion, and unshakable faith in the world of cricket. Hukus Bukus revolves around the conflict between a father and son and their heroes—Sri Krishna and the God of Cricket, Sachin,” says the actor, hoping that he is able to connect with the youth, especially when their opinions vary from their fathers.

Brushing up his cricket skills for the film was a “fantastic experience”, says the actor, who prepped for two weeks and played endlessly with the crew to elevate his performance. “I gained a newfound appreciation for the sport,” he shares.