Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has voiced his concerns about the increasing prevalence of “proposal films” in the industry. These films, according to Varma, are meticulously crafted with pan-India casting to appeal to a broader audience. However, he believes that this strategy often prioritises the egos of the stars over the essence of the story.
In a recent interview with Galatta Plus, Varma elaborated on why many pan-India films feature stars from diverse regions. He explained that producers believe this approach makes financial sense. While there is theoretically nothing wrong with this strategy, Varma pointed out that history shows such projects often fail.
Varma stated, “These are called ‘proposal films’ because you calculate that if this actor comes from one region, their audience will watch the film. If another actor is from a different region, that audience will also watch. While this theory is sound, the success of a film like Baahubali proves that casting isn’t everything. Baahubali was a blockbuster across multiple languages despite its lead, Prabhas, being primarily a Telugu star. The film’s visual and conceptual novelty drew audiences, not just the presence of stars from various regions.”
He continued, “When filmmakers start assembling a cast from different regions, they burden the film. To cater to each star’s ego and satisfy their personal demands, the story often loses focus. This is why many multi-starrer films fail. SS Rajamouli, with Baahubali, showed that if executed correctly, a film could reach monumental box office heights, inspiring many to attempt similar feats with large budgets.”
Varma further explained that the success of Baahubali led many filmmakers to believe they could create films with budgets of Rs 500 crore, thinking it was a safe investment compared to Baahubali’s Rs 1000-2000 crore earnings. However, he cautioned that this approach is a “trap” as it relies on the assumption that every film can replicate such success.
The filmmaker also highlighted the balanced approach of stars like Aamir Khan, who manage both big-budget and smaller films effectively. “Aamir can juggle a film like Ghajini with Taare Zameen Par because he understands his audience and keeps the costs in check. He knows that a blockbuster can reach 100 people while a niche film might reach only 20, but he adjusts the effort and investment accordingly.”
Varma used the example of the Prabhas starrer Radhe Shyam to illustrate his point. Despite its high budget, the film was a box office failure. He noted, “Radhe Shyam was essentially a small film, despite its high expenditure. The film’s concept and representation were not on par with Baahubali. When such a film fails, it deters stars from attempting smaller projects, fearing they won’t work.”
He concluded, “The issue arises when a small film is given an unnecessarily large budget in hopes of bigger profits. Aamir’s Taare Zameen Par cost less than Rs 10 crore, but its recovery potential was understood. Overspending on films where it’s not required leads to problems.”
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