Anubhav Sinha on Ayushmann Khurrana-led Anek: Never received such extreme responses to any of my films

Anek saw Anubhav Sinha join hands with Ayushmann Khurrana yet again after the 2019 film Article 15. But it seems that the director did not get the response he was expecting from audiences on the release of his new film.

In conversation with IWM Buzz, Sinha talked about the polarising responses he got for his film. “I’ve never received such extreme responses to any of my films”, said Sinha. The director revealed that the audiences seemed to have either ‘loved’ or ‘hated’ the movie, with no ‘middle ground’.

ALSO READ- Exclusive! Ayushmann Khurrana on working in Anek: You just need one good director to trust you with your potential 

Revealing that people had told him Anek was ‘convoluted’, the director said that the movie seemed to have failed to connect with a larger audience. Sinha said that although he wanted every film of his to be commercially successful, it wasn't a ‘burning ambition’ for him. Sinha added that he was ‘okay’ with failures as well.

Although the film did not get the response he wanted, Sinha does not dwell upon it. The filmmaker said that neither was he afraid of failure nor was he ‘shackled’ by it. He revealed that he had already moved on to his next project, titled Bheed. The film, Rajkummar Rao and Bhumi Pednekar, is slated for release in November.

Anek was released in theatres on May 27. The film is witnessing a dismal run at the box office. The political thriller earned only about Rs. 5.50 crores on its first weekend and is not showing much sign of picking up the pace. The film, which also stars Andrea Kevichüsa in her Bollywood debut, will be available to stream on Netflix after its theatrical run.

ALSO READ- Anek movie review: Ayushmann Khurrana-Anubhav Sinha's film hits you where it hurts