Dulquer Salmaan: We'll have to choose films that can go to theatres and the ones for OTT

Dulquer Salmaan chose the OTT route for his latest outing, Salute which has enraged Kerala's Film Exhibitors United Organisation (FEUOK).

Dulquer Salmaan, whose film Salute premiered on SonyLIV over the weekend, is in a pickle right now. The suspense thriller was supposed to be released on January 14, but it had to be postponed owing to the third wave of the pandemic. The actor-producer then chose the OTT route, which has enraged Kerala's Film Exhibitors United Organisation (FEUOK). As a result, Salmaan's forthcoming films will be boycotted by the FEUOK.

Talking about the same, the actor told Mid Day that he could see where they were coming from. Because of the lockdown and COVID-19, these are unusual times. OTT platforms have grown in popularity as a result of this.

While the actor's last two films, Kurup and Hey Sinamika were both released on the big screen, he believes that a digital debut for Salute was a wise decision. Salmaan shared that a large number of films are awaiting distribution. Most films have a one-or-two-week window until the next one hits the marquee. Right now, they are in a period of transition before returning to routine. Thus, they will have to select between films that can be seen in theatres and those that will be available on demand. The balance will be restored over time, and Salmaan will only have pleasant feelings towards the theater proprietors. The actor went on to say that there's no greater thrill than seeing a movie in a theatre.

According to reports, the decision will be presented before the FEUOK's general meeting by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Salmaan plays a cop who is hell-bent on solving a case while being followed by his colleagues in director Rosshan Andrews' Malayalam thriller. The actor revealed he wasn't looking for a cop job, but when this one came along, he knew he had to take it. He describes it as "rooted."

R Balki's Chup is his next project, and it marks his return to Hindi film after three years. Salmaan doesn't take the title of pan-India actor seriously, despite his willingness to work in Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi films. He shared that a film can travel on its own. He is not sure if they should package a film in such a way that it appeals to the audience across the country. Salmaan simply follows the script, and he wants to keep his audience guessing.

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