Bhale 10 hit chhoot jaaye, lekin 1 flop nahin chahiye!” Kumar and Ramesh Taurani open up about actors’ fear of flops, praise Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn on Komal Nahta’s Game Changers: The Music Series

Kumar and Ramesh Taurani Share Insights on Actor Mindsets, Industry Changes, and Film Commitments on Komal Nahta’s Game Changers: The Music Series

Komal Nahta, one of India’s most respected trade analysts, is back with a fresh season of his podcast Game Changers: The Music Series. This edition shines a spotlight on celebrated singers, composers, and music maestros as they share their creative journeys, inspirations, and the untold stories behind the music that has shaped generations. The latest episode featured Kumar and Ramesh Taurani.

During the candid conversation, the veteran producer duo talked about how the Hindi film industry has evolved over the decades, particularly when it comes to actor choices and the process of signing films. Ramesh Taurani revisited the earlier days of film promotion and the trust producers shared with actors. He shared, “In the olden days, we used to promote our films extensively, put up hoardings, publish posters in film magazines, play the songs on TV and radio, etc. Hence, actors used to get excited when signing a film produced by a music company. We used to just share one-line idea of the story and at times, actors agreed to do the film over a phone call and without even physically meeting us. Woh bharosa tha aur luckily, woh bharosa rang laaya kyunki hamari sab picturein chali.”

Addressing the current trends, Kumar Taurani pointed out how actors today tend to be far more cautious and hesitant about failure. Urging actors to take on more projects, he said, “Now, actors are very panicky, fearing that their film might flop. Actors should continue working, even if they deliver a couple of flops. They should not fear and should do at least 2-3 movies a year. At the same time, they should also be economical with the producers. From what I know, the actors and director of Dhurandhar opted for profit sharing; their upfront fees were not much.”

Ramesh Taurani drew a striking legal analogy to explain why modern actors hesitate to sign multiple projects, noting how alternate revenue streams have shifted their approach to box office risks. He explained, “In the 90s and 2000s, there were not many revenue options. Now, actors can earn through stage shows, ads, endorsements, etc. So, they have a lot of money. Our judiciary follows this principle that bhale 100 gunehgaar chhoot jaaye, lekin ek begunaah ko faansi nahin honi chahiye. Similarly, actors think that bhale 10 hit chhoot jaaye, koi parwah nahin. Lekin 1 flop nahin chahiye! They don’t want their brand value to diminish.”

Highlighting stars who consistently deliver high output despite the pressure of flops, Ramesh praised the ongoing dedication of industry veterans. He added, “In the long term, flops don’t matter. Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn deliver 4 films a year and are going strong for so many years. Drishyam The Conclusion is tracking so well. Salman Khan continues to work and has 3 films in 2 years for sure. I always tell Aamir Khan, ‘Bhai aap zyaada picturein karo’. Shah Rukh Khan’s King will release 3 years after his last release. Aise actors ka zyada kaam aana chahiye.”

With Game Changers Season: The Music Series, Komal Nahta is redefining the landscape of Indian cinema conversations. Tune in to the YouTube channel for Game Changer: The Music Series!