Director Vikram Bhatt said that Bollywood filmmakers would benefit more if they focus on making original content rather than copying Hollywood movies.
The filmmaker admitted he failed with his 2014 directorial Creature because he tried imitating films made in Hollywood.
“Our horror films have always been the romanticising of horror. We always had love stories, emotions, music. Whether it is Mahal, Kohra or Bees Saal Baad. That is the culture of our films. Raaz belongs to the culture of Indian horror films. If we are to make Conjuring, then people say, ‘Oh this is Conjuring’,” said Bhatt.
“Anybody who tries to ape Hollywood now is going to become a lesser cousin of Hollywood. I’ve learnt that lesson myself in a film called Creature,” said Bhatt at a promotional event for Raaz Reboot last evening.
The director is gearing up for the release of Emraan Hashmi-starrer Raaz Reboot, which is the fourth film in the horror film franchise, Raaz.
Bhatt said that Bollywood doesn’t have the right budget to compete with horror films made in Hollywood.
“When [Hollywood] makes films, which have hot aliens in it, we cannot compare. We don’t have the budget. When you become a poor cousin of Conjuring, the [audience] have Conjuring to watch. Why will they watch your films?”
Horror genre has largely remained untapped in Hindi cinema and fans have often complained of its “amateurish” depiction.
Bhatt, however, is certain he wouldn’t change his way of making such movies to please audience.
“We have to stick to the art form that we are. We are the romanticising art form. If the Conjuring audience doesn’t want to see it, then too bad. But we are not going to change for it,” he said.
Also starring Gaurav Arora and Kriti Kharbanda, Raaz Reboot is set to release on September 16 in India in a box office clash with Amitabh Bachchan-led thriller Pink.