After the underperformance of Vikram Vedha and Fighter, trade experts open up on why success is eluding Hrithik Roshan: “Hrithik is not Sunny Deol. He’s a multiplex star. He’s disconnected from the masses. He should look into how South actors are connected with their fans and learn”

By Fenil Seta -

February 2, 2024 - 12:00 PM IST

Often, films underperform due to negative reports. In the case of Hrithik Roshan, his recent films – Vikram Vedha (2022) and Fighter – both had terrific reports. These films also seemed mainstream entertainers that would pull not just classes but even masses to the cinemas. Alas, that didn’t happen. Vikram Vedha opened at Rs. 10.58 crores and ended its run at Rs. 78.66 crores, when the expectation was that it would cross Rs. 150 crores plus. With Fighter, the trade and industry hoped that it would be Hrithik’s highest grosser or at least cross Rs. 250 crores mark. The jump that the film saw on Republic Day raised hopes. But Saturday and Sunday were down and then the poor Monday collections of Rs. 7 crores dashed all hopes.

After the underperformance of Vikram Vedha and Fighter, trade experts open up on why success is eluding Hrithik Roshan: “Hrithik is not Sunny Deol. He’s a multiplex star. He’s disconnected from the masses. He should look into how South actors are connected with their fans and learn”

Worryingly, Hrithik Roshan’s last hit was War (2019), which was released nearly 4 ½ years ago. A lot has happened since then. Shah Rukh Khan bounced back, Ranbir Kapoor got into the superstar league and even Sunny Deol delivered a Rs. 500 crores grosser. We asked trade experts why Hrithik Roshan, despite being so charming and boasting of supreme acting talent and fan following, is facing such a time.

Trade analyst Atul Mohan said, “He’s disconnected from the masses. He doesn’t even do Twitter interaction. He should look into how South actors are connected with their fans and learn.”

A single-screen owner from the heartland of India told us, said on condition of anonymity, “Hrithik is not Sunny Deol. He’s a multiplex star. He doesn’t have the emotional connect like Sunny Deol. Jab Sunny dialogue bolte hai dil-o-jaan se, toh log hil jaate hai. That didn’t happen here.”

Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar, opined, “Hrithik needs to work with his father or a South director. The problem with him is that after Krrish, whatever he has done, it is for the multiplex audience. He has lost his grip over the single-screen audience. That needs to be established again. When you do films like Super 30 (2019) and Vikram Vedha, aap masses ko kahan kuch de rahe ho? War was a slick film that was more skewed towards the urban audience. It didn’t get the acceptance that Jawan and Gadar 2 got. Hence, they didn’t come in hordes to see Fighter. The urban audience, meanwhile, had the perception that it’s similar to Hollywood aerial films.”

Film exhibitor and distributor Akshaye Rathi noted, “A star really needs to have a connect with the aam junta throughout the year. I can’t remember any of these stars off late proactively interacting with the audience that reads vernacular papers. I can’t remember them putting anything on social media that is relatable to the common man. All the actors are becoming quite urbane in their outlook, lifestyle, opinions, appearances etc. Hence, the common man is losing connect with them.”

He also reminded that War indeed was his last big hit but “that film had more mass-friendly elements like storytelling, marketing, music, casting of Tiger Shroff etc, who’s a mass star. Even Hrithik Roshan is a mass star. His stardom is built on films like Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (2000), Koi Mil Gaya (2003), Krrish (2006), Dhoom 2 (2006) etc which were absolute mass entertainers. His stardom hasn’t been built on Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) or Guzaarish (2010). That’s why, he’s one of the last few stars who has the interest of the mass audience. To keep that audience engaged, he’ll have to continue doing mass films. Also, all the communication that happens around him around the year needs to make him relatable to the mass audience. If that can happen, then it’s only a matter of time before he bounces back in a massive way and delivers mega successes all over again.”

Trade veteran Taran Adarsh disagreed with the notion, “It is said that Hrithik has not been able to break out in the mass pockets. Well, maybe or maybe not. But how can we forget a film like Agneepath (2012)? It did so well among the masses. So, it’s not like Hrithik is alien to the masses. Nevertheless, Fighter is more of an urban-friendly film. It is unlike Gadar 2, which was raw.”

Will Hrithik’s War 2 be affected?

Hrithik Roshan’s next is also a big-budget, slick action extravaganza – War 2. Will the underperformance of Vikram Vedha and Fighter prove detrimental to this YRF production? Taran Adarsh has kept his fingers crossed, “War is already a brand. I hope they get it right. The casting is very exciting. Both Hrithik and Jr. NTR are dynamic. I hope it has mass elements.” Akshaye Rathi disagreed, “What can affect War 2 are its merits or demerits.”

Atul Mohan explained, “As a franchise, War is totally different. The director has now changed and we need to see how he takes the story forward. In the past, Ali Abbas Zafar took the baton from Kabir Khan for Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) and it worked. However, when Maneesh Sharma took over in Tiger 3 (2023), he faltered.” He continued, “I guess Aditya Chopra knows best. Hence, he entrusted the responsibility to Ayan Mukerji.”

Vishek Chauhan said, “War 2 will get affected. People are tired of structured action films and franchise films. This is happening across the world. Mission Impossible didn’t work, Aquaman tanked while Fast X underperformed. The audience now needs raw action films like Animal or the angry young man movies that Mr Amitabh Bachchan did in the 70s. There’s anyway a lot of discontent in the society again. The audience has seen enough of actors jumping out of helicopters, buildings exploding etc. I might be wrong but Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Singham Again might face the same fate as Fighter. War 2, however, might be salvaged by Jr. NTR’s presence.”

Akshaye Rathi had the last word, “Shah Rukh Khan delivered Jab Harry Met Sejal and Zero before delivering Pathaan. It’s not like Hrithik Roshan’s stardom has suddenly eroded. It’s just that his films and the communication around him are not reaching a big chunk of the audience. The day his on-screen and off-screen persona starts reaching the audience, it’s a matter of time before he starts delivering Rs. 500 crores blockbusters.”

Also Read: Hrithik Roshan tends to push back on bare-chest scenes and dance sequences; says, “I don’t think anybody wakes up as the best version of themselves”