People who loved Laapataa Ladies did not come to theatres, 12th Fail a different story: Karan Johar

Laapataa Ladies has been trending since the movie is India’s official entry to Oscars 2025. Karan Johar, who was at a roundtable recently, spoke of the movie being a huge hit on OTT but the audiences not even coming to theatres to support the movie, helmed by Kiran Rao. At the same time, he, along with Zoya Akhtar, discussed how Vikrant Massey’s 12th Fail is a different story. Here’s how the conversation went…

People who loved Laapataa Ladies never came to theatres: Karan Johar

Citing the example of Laapataa Ladies, Karan said at The Hollywood Reporter Roundtable that even if the film only did Rs. 20 crore at the Box Office, it is a massive hit on OTT. He also pointed out that people who loved it on OTT never came to the theatres. It is also to be noted that Laapataa Ladies is now India's official entry to the Oscars, thus proving the kind of love the film has received anyway.

Also read: 'Honored' Kiran Rao reacts after Laapataa Ladies becomes India's official entry for Oscars 2025: 'I hope that this film will resonate with...' 

12th Fail among the good old pre-pandemic days, but…: Karan Johar

Zoya Akhtar, also a part of the roundtable, argued that people went for Vikrant Massey's 12th Fail. Karan notes that 12th Fail has a texture that is very commercial and rooted. When Zoya argued that Laapataa Ladies also had that, Karan mentioned it being sensitive. He then noted how 12th Fail was one of those films that went to the good old pre-pandemic days when high-content films did well. He believes the movie might have earned Rs. 80 crore. The movie earned approximately Rs. 55 crore at the Box Office.

Also read: Aamir Khan expresses gratitude after Kiran Rao's Laapataa Ladies becomes India's official entry to Oscars 2025 

The changing theatre-going audiences discussed

Zoya then pointed out that the high ticket prices also add up to the factor of people not going to the theatres. Karan, who approached business experts, spoke of how in the pre-pandemic times, movies and sports were huge, but in the post-pandemic times, travel and hospitality have increased. As per him, the people, who used to watch 6-8 films per year, are now watching only 2.

"Hindi cinema is craving for all kinds of content that must be told," he said, adding that the movies don't do the numbers and thus, they don't get the ability to make that film.