In an interview with Film Companion, Siddharth emphasized that greenlighting a film should not solely hinge on its international appeal. He stressed that the foremost objective must be ensuring the film’s success domestically before contemplating global expansion.Using ‘Dangal’ as an example, he highlighted the resonance between Indian and Chinese cultures, particularly their patriarchal nature, which resonated with Chinese audiences.
Siddharth Roy Kapur reflected on the unexpected success of ‘Dangal’ in China, acknowledging Aamir Khan’s established stardom there. However, he expressed astonishment at the film’s remarkable achievement of $200 million in China. Kapur attributed the film’s resonance in China to its portrayal of patriarchal themes, which struck a chord with Chinese audiences. He highlighted the cultural similarities between India and China, particularly in their patriarchal societies, which allowed the audience to empathize with the protagonist’s struggle and triumph.
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Siddharth Roy Kapur emphasized that while they couldn’t entirely anticipate the reasons behind ‘Dangal’s success in China, hindsight revealed the film’s resonance with the culture. He stressed the importance of identifying universal themes in films objectively, acknowledging that not every film possesses such potential. Kapur underscored the significance of strategic distribution to penetrate the international market effectively.
Kapur further emphasized that it’s futile to reverse-engineer a story to fit international standards. He asserted that storytelling must stem from authenticity rather than a preconceived notion of international appeal. Kapur highlighted the importance of remaining faithful to the narrative one intends to convey.
‘Dangal’ maintains its position as the top-grossing Indian film internationally, surpassing ‘Baahubali 2,’ which amassed over Rs 1700 crore, and ‘RRR,’ which earned over Rs 1200 crore.