Director duo Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao, who are known for their work in Indian cinema, have made a significant mark in the industry. Radhika Rao, an Indian film director and writer, made her feature film directorial debut with Lucky: No Time for Love (2005), co-directed with Vinay Sapru, and starring Salman Khan. Her subsequent films include I Love NY (2015), Sanam Teri Kasam (2016), and Yaariyan 2 (2023). Together, they run a film production company, Rao & Sapru. The duo has directed superstars like Salman Khan in Lucky: No Time for Love, as well as Sunny Deol, Kangana Ranaut, and others.Director duo Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru have introduced a new trend by re-releasing their film Sanam Teri Kasam. Initially tagged as a flop, the film, after nine years, has experienced a stupendous success at the box office. We discuss the reasons for its success now and its failure then. Read on to know more:Why did the film Sanam Teri Kasam not work then, and why is the re-release experiencing such success now?Vinay Sapru: “Back then, the film did well, but the studio that was handling our film betrayed our trust. On the very first day, we had good box office collections. However, you need to promote a film, and for that, you need money. The studio did not spend on promotions. We need to let go of that negativity and not focus on the name of the studio. We’re thankful that we’ve surpassed those tough times, and now we’re witnessing the success of the re-release of Sanam Teri Kasam.”Continuing about being betrayed by the studio, he adds, “There was betrayal. However, even then, the film had collected 1.25 crores on the very first day, and it continued to do well over the weekend. We approached the studio for support in terms of promotional activities to help the film sustain, but the atmosphere at their office was different. Our trust was broken. Anyway, as they say, surrender to God, and success will follow. After nine years, we’re finally seeing the light of day.”Radhika Rao interrupts mid-way and says, “Not all studios are bad. We’re talking about the studio that was handling our film. There are many studios that are supportive of their products. We had a bad experience with this particular studio.”When asked if the film worked now because it was ahead of its time, Vinay replied, “A few critics had labeled the film as regressive and a flop.”Radhika added, “Actually, some critics questioned why the girl wanted to get married. If Sanam Teri Kasam is considered regressive, then why is its re-release experiencing such stupendous success now? We feel the term ‘regressive’ is a fallacy. It should be removed from the dictionary. Who are a handful of people to decide the fate of a film? The audience decides if a film is good or bad. They are investing their time, energy, and money, and clearly, they like the film. With the success of the re-release, I can now say—those critics didn’t understand what is relevant to the audience.”On the latest trend of booking tickets in bulk by production houses and buying reviews, they say, “We don’t have that kind of money, nor do we believe in buying reviews or tickets in bulk. Hard work and sincerity will bear fruit, and that’s the mantra we follow.”On a concluding note, quoting a line from the film, they say, “I love you to the square of infinity. So please keep loving the square of infinity and believe in true love. Life is beautiful.”Their next romantic film, directed and written by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, is set to release next Valentine’s Day, maybe next year.A Heartwarming MemoryVinay and Radhika also shared a touching memory of a Bollywood Samaritan who helped them when they were in need. No prizes for guessing—it’s none other than Salman Khan. “Someone from the team came to us, handed over a packet of money, and said, ‘Bhai ne yeh packet aap ke liye bheja hai.’ We were in tears to see that there were some dollars in the packet, and Bhai had written, ‘Don’t spend this money on the film. Spend it on yourselves.’ We were running short of finances, so in the end, we spent it on the film because it was our baby, and of utmost importance to us.”
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