The Bhoot horror franchise, which Karan Johar has kick-started with a bang, is a loss-compensating strategy, meant to minimise the financial setbacks suffered by Dharma Productions via Kalank.
According to a source close to the production house, “The failure of Kalank was horrific. The brainstorming tank at Dharma suggested the horror franchise titled Bhoot. To be made under a very tight budget, this series of films is expected to recover investments within the first three days of release and then make a small profit.”
The makers have signed Vicky Kaushal as the male lead, and the actor is not as expensive to book as some of Dharma’s frontrunners like Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor.
Getting the Bhoot title from his arch-enemy Ram Gopal Varma was even more of a masterstroke for Karan Johar. Karan was reportedly reluctant to approach Varma, with whom he has openly warred in the past on Twitter. However, the team at Dharma Productions was adamant, and so Karan made the move reluctantly.
Surprisingly, RGV handed over the title to Karan without a fuss. A source close to Karan says, “It was a surprise, and generous of Ramu. Karan intends to pay him back for the favour.”
This isn’t the first time a major filmmaker has found a shortcut to fortune after a disastrous failure. After the resounding failure of his career’s best work Kaagaz Ke Phool, Guru Dutt quickly recompensed his company by making the kitschy potboiler hit Chaudhvin Ka Chand. And after weathering waterloo with Mera Naam Joker, Raj Kapoor swiftly switched to the easy teen romance Bobby, which was a blockbuster.
