Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has opened up about the overwhelming support his latest film Main Vaapas Aaunga has received from colleagues across the film industry, saying the encouragement has left him deeply moved.
The romantic drama, starring Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari, Vedang Raina and Naseeruddin Shah, opened to positive reviews but witnessed a modest start at the box office. However, strong word of mouth has helped the film register significant growth in its second week, emerging as one of the surprise success stories of the season.
Speaking on Yuvaa's Be A Man Yaar podcast, Ali said he feels grateful to see audiences and industry figures embracing the film and encouraging others to watch it in theatres.
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Filmmakers and actors rally behind the film
Sharing his experience, Ali revealed that several prominent names from the film fraternity have personally reached out to him to celebrate the film's performance.
He said veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur has been regularly checking on the film's box office collections, while actor-writer Piyush Mishra has been sending videos from packed cinema halls. Ali also recalled receiving words of encouragement from filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who advised him not to worry about the film's initial box office numbers.
According to Ali, the support goes beyond appreciation and reflects a genuine desire within the industry to see meaningful stories succeed.
Imtiaz praises colleagues for backing the film
The filmmaker also expressed gratitude towards actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who lent his voice to the song Tere Paas Main from the film. Ali said he was deeply touched by the way Khurrana approached the track and praised him for the sincerity he brought to the project.
The director further highlighted the support of filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who has been actively promoting the film on social media. Kashyap had earlier praised Main Vaapas Aaunga in an Instagram post, encouraging audiences to watch it in theatres.
Ali said the support from fellow filmmakers and actors challenges the common perception that members of the film industry do not support one another.
Strong second-week growth at the box office
The appreciation from audiences has translated into a noticeable jump in collections during the film's second week.
After a slow opening, Main Vaapas Aaunga recorded a 130 per cent increase in collections on its second Friday, earning ₹1.90 crore and surpassing its opening-day figures.
The momentum continued over the weekend, with the film collecting ₹4.35 crore on Saturday and ₹5.75 crore on Sunday, despite competition from newer releases, including Cocktail 2.
A story finding its audience
According to the experts in the industry, the consistent performance of the film is proof that good word-of-mouth could make the movie successful irrespective of its performance in the opening weekend.
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Thanks to great word-of-mouth and the continued support from the film fraternity, Main Vaapas Aaunga has managed to create momentum for itself slowly, resulting in yet another critically acclaimed film in Ali’s repertoire.
The director said that the greatest reward so far was to see people appreciate the film and recommend it to other people.
FAQs
Q1. How did Imtiaz Ali react to the reception for Main Vaapas Aaunga?
Imtiaz Ali expressed his gratitude towards the encouragement which he has been receiving from fellow filmmakers, actors and industry colleagues in praising and supporting the film.
Q2. How has the box-office performance been for Main Vaapas Aaunga?
Starting off slowly, the film has shown tremendous growth in its second week with a 130 percent increase in the collection in the second Friday and the subsequent days.
