Anees Bazmee reveals he was hospitalised for stress over silent Welcome test screenings: “When a hundred people don’t like your film”

Anees Bazmee opens up about facing intense criticism during test screenings for his film "Welcome", which led to hospitalization due to stress.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

October 10, 2024 - 10:32 AM IST

Anees Bazmee is making his directorial comeback with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, a horror-comedy set to release this Diwali. Known for iconic Hindi comedies like No Entry, Welcome, and Singh Is Kinng, Bazmee recalls that despite their cult status now, the initial reactions to some of his films were far from positive. In an exclusive interview with HT, the filmmaker shared how stress from negative test screenings for Welcome once landed him in the hospital.

Anees Bazmee reveals he was hospitalised for stress over silent Welcome test screenings: “When a hundred people don’t like your film”

While discussing positive and negative feedback on projects, Bazmee admits that many of his now-popular films had tough beginnings. “Some of the films that I made, I showed them in full to people. And people's reactions were that 'my God, this is such a terrible film,” he said with a laugh.”

He gives the example of Welcome, a 2007 comedy starring Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, Feroz Khan, and Mallika Sherawat. Bazmee said, “When I made Welcome, people had just one complaint - that this isn't comedy.” He added, “I told them this is what I have made and I can't now go and tickle people in the theatre. This is the only kind of comedy I know how to make. I can't put buffoonery, double entendre, and all. They are shortcuts and I don't believe in them. I believe in writing comedy.”

However, the trial runs of Welcome went on without a single person laughing, Bazmee said, “Full trial runs of Welcome had not a single person laughing in the theatre. But when the film was released, people called it cult. Today, after 16-17 years of its release, people still call it relevant and make memes on it. So we must have done something right.”

He acknowledges that he was perplexed for a while as all of this was unfolding. He said, “A person can be confused and forced to think if they did something wrong. Because in our society, people also say that if the whole world is saying something, consider it the truth. I believe in that and I am open to feedback.”

The stress of the unfavorable reactions before to release landed Bazmee in the hospital. He said, “I was in a hospital. When a hundred people don't like your film, you get stressed. I make one film at a time and that project becomes my battle. Today, I am at a stage where I can afford to have the one odd bad film, because I have a body of work behind me. At that time, I didn't. On top of that, there were so many people linked to the film, including the financiers. So I was very stressed. On the hospital bed, I reviewed my script, scene-by-scene. At the end of two days, I came to the conclusion that this works. My conviction said this is something very nice.”

On the work front, Anees Bazmee's upcoming film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is set to hit theaters on November 1. The horror-comedy features Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, and Triptii Dimri in the lead roles.

Also Read : “MADNESS at Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 trailer launch in Jaipur; Confident Anees Bazmee predicts: “Agar aap logon ko Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 acchi lagi thi, toh yeh film bahut zyada acchi lagegi”