Hansal Mehta on box office fate of The Buckingham Murders: What matters to me is return on investment - Exclusive

The mystery created around The Buckingham Murders was quite intriguing but the thriller has found few takers in theatres. Kareena Kapoor Khan marks her production debut with this film and also essays the fierce leading lady. The film released on September 13 and has managed to earn a total of Rs 6 crore at the end of four days. In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, director Hansal Mehta opens up about The Buckingham Murders, re-release of past Bollywood films and much more. Excerpts:

How do you feel when you read about the praise that Kareena Kapoor has received for The Buckingham Murders?I feel vindicated.. Happy ..relieved and there are so many things..

What is that one thing you saw, that made you feel Kareena is your Jass in the film and what impressed you about her?
Honestly I did not decide on that, Ekta had proposed her name. I had signed on with Ekta in 2019 and Kareena had read the story. I was delighted when she came on board and I thought Kareena is somebody as an actor hasn’t been explored enough… her potential has not been tapped enough and that gave me an opportunity to do that.

Now that the film has released and people have praised her how do you feel about that..Before the film released I left for London to drop my daughter to the university, my thing is once the film is delivered and it is about to release I actually try to cut off a bit and try to start focusing on what next. Even for Scam, I had left for Lonavala before the show released. I go away to cut off, it is my process because for me the journey is not about release, it is just a date. You make a film because you love making films and you reduce its value by saying how trivialising Friday was.

Is it your nature or a process you follow...It is a process, otherwise you get caught up with all the good and bad and it is important to keep focus on what you are here for and I am a storyteller. I watched the film two days before it released as I had to test the print. I watched the film and I told myself this is the film I wanted to make I have done my best, it is time to move on and let the audience respond to the film

Box office does not matter to you?What matters to me is return on investment. Has the film recovered its investment? Has the film made money? I go with that knowledge that has happened and whatever will happen after that is a bonus

It is the season of re-releases, any plans of Shahid or Aligarh returning to theatres?I don't know, maybe I would like to see Omerta re-release. I would like people to experience the film in theaters and it is entirely dependent on the audience and exhibitors. Releasing or re- releasing is not cheap. People spend a lot of money. I have friends who have spent more on the re- release than they have on the release. But I can't afford it.