In a rather strange extension of an actor’s jurisdiction, Aamir Khan has come forward claiming responsibility and apologising to the public for disappointing them with his latest release Thugs of Hindostan.
While the public apology appears to be a magnanimous gesture, the reason behind the actor coming forward to claim responsibility for the film’s failure is indeterminate.
“In what capacity is he apologising for the film’s failure? He is neither the producer nor the director of Thugs... So, is this Mr Aamir Khan’s way of acknowledging that he was ghost-directing the film all along?” asks a prolific filmmaker who has been associated with Aamir in the past.
Sources at Yash Raj Films say the Thugs of Hindostan director has been issued a gag order by the film’s producer Aditya Chopra. “Victor (director Vijay Krishna Acharya) has been told to keep absolutely quiet about the failure of Thugs of Hindostan,” says a well-informed source.
Reacting to Aamir’s public self-flagellation, trade analyst Amod Mehra says, “If Aamir feels that the success of his films is due to his capability of choosing the right subject, then it’s but natural that he should also take the blame for the failure of Thugs, as his judgment went wrong.”
Adds Atul Mohan (the editor of Complete Cinema), “Obviously, only Aamir is to be blamed. Whenever an Aamir Khan film becomes hit, we hear stories of how Aamir has been involved right from scripting to execution to marketing to distribution. We get to see his dedication in videos released of his makeover to get into the character. So, was he sleeping here? He has attained the tag of Mr Perfectionist due to his detailed involvement in all departments. You may go wrong sometimes. People felt disappointed and cheated, as they expected a better product here. Aamir should be respected for accepting his mistake for going wrong with this project.”
Although Film & Trade Business analyst Girish Johar says, “A film project is a collective effort but when a lead star of the stature of Aamir Khan is in the film, all eyes are on him. He has a humongous credibility which he brings onto his project. It is brought and created by him only as he is a huge star. Now taking the onus of the failure of Thugs Of Hindostan does not belittle him at all. It’s good that he has acknowledged it. No one can guarantee success but by this apology Aamir has maintained his legacy and credibility and his fans now look upon his next outing with equal zeal ahead.”
