Vikram Bhatt reacts to Haunted 3D beating Main Vaapas Aaunga at box office
Vikram Bhatt's Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past has moved ahead of Main Vaapas Aaunga at the box office. Bhatt said targeted promotion and the franchise's hidden audience shaped the film's run.
The horror franchise film Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past has emerged as a surprise winner at the box office among the latest Hindi releases, earning over Rs 18 crore. Despite arriving alongside high-profile dramas like Main Vaapas Aaunga and Bharat Bhagya Vidhata, the supernatural film has successfully moved ahead in collections to lead the weekend race.
According to the latest figures, Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past has earned Rs 18.91 crore gross and Rs 16.12 crore net in India. In comparison, Main Vaapas Aaunga has collected Rs 14.60 crore gross and Rs 12.25 crore net so far.
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut's Bharat Bhhagya Vidhaata, which also released on June 12, collected Rs 7.82 crore gross and Rs 6.59 crore net at the box office.
In an interview with News 18, Bhatt highlighted that he was not surprised by the film’s performance, even though many felt it had not been promoted aggressively. He emphasised that the campaign had been designed for the audience most likely to turn up for the film.
The director said, "No, I’m not (surprised). Because the film was promoted. But it was promoted where we thought we should promote it. Fortunately or unfortunately, we didn’t have the budget to carpet bomb. So we targeted that audience that we knew would come for the film."
Bhatt said revealed that there were hoardings for the film, but the team did not go overboard because they saw it as a mass film and believed that was where the ticket sales would come from. He mentioned that the trade pundits may have missed the promotion because it was not aimed at them or at the major metros on that scale. "We were clear about that," the director added.
Bhatt also said he had always believed the Haunted franchise had a loyal audience. He said the film’s performance did not make him happy at the expense of others, adding that he did not want anybody to have poor numbers and believed there was enough space in the country for two or even three successful films to run at the same time. “I’m just happy that my film did well,” he said.
The Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past director also said the result was a reminder to be careful around franchise films, saying they can beat star-cast films because they have a "hidden audience."
"It is not meant to put anybody down. It’s just meant to keep that study and understanding as a note to myself. Don’t release your film with a franchise film, no matter how big a star you may have," he said, adding, "Of course, one is not talking about Shah Rukh or Salman. But even if it’s a good star cast, be careful of the franchise film because it has a hidden audience. You don’t see them, but they come out of the woodworks to see the film."
Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past features Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Chetna Pande, Hemant Pande, Praneet Bhat and Tia Bajpai in key roles.
Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past theatrically released on June 12.
The horror franchise film Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past has emerged as a surprise winner at the box office among the latest Hindi releases, earning over Rs 18 crore. Despite arriving alongside high-profile dramas like Main Vaapas Aaunga and Bharat Bhagya Vidhata, the supernatural film has successfully moved ahead in collections to lead the weekend race.
According to the latest figures, Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past has earned Rs 18.91 crore gross and Rs 16.12 crore net in India. In comparison, Main Vaapas Aaunga has collected Rs 14.60 crore gross and Rs 12.25 crore net so far.
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut's Bharat Bhhagya Vidhaata, which also released on June 12, collected Rs 7.82 crore gross and Rs 6.59 crore net at the box office.
In an interview with News 18, Bhatt highlighted that he was not surprised by the film’s performance, even though many felt it had not been promoted aggressively. He emphasised that the campaign had been designed for the audience most likely to turn up for the film.
The director said, "No, I’m not (surprised). Because the film was promoted. But it was promoted where we thought we should promote it. Fortunately or unfortunately, we didn’t have the budget to carpet bomb. So we targeted that audience that we knew would come for the film."
Bhatt said revealed that there were hoardings for the film, but the team did not go overboard because they saw it as a mass film and believed that was where the ticket sales would come from. He mentioned that the trade pundits may have missed the promotion because it was not aimed at them or at the major metros on that scale. "We were clear about that," the director added.
Bhatt also said he had always believed the Haunted franchise had a loyal audience. He said the film’s performance did not make him happy at the expense of others, adding that he did not want anybody to have poor numbers and believed there was enough space in the country for two or even three successful films to run at the same time. “I’m just happy that my film did well,” he said.
The Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past director also said the result was a reminder to be careful around franchise films, saying they can beat star-cast films because they have a "hidden audience."
"It is not meant to put anybody down. It’s just meant to keep that study and understanding as a note to myself. Don’t release your film with a franchise film, no matter how big a star you may have," he said, adding, "Of course, one is not talking about Shah Rukh or Salman. But even if it’s a good star cast, be careful of the franchise film because it has a hidden audience. You don’t see them, but they come out of the woodworks to see the film."
Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past features Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Chetna Pande, Hemant Pande, Praneet Bhat and Tia Bajpai in key roles.
Haunted 3D: Echoes of the Past theatrically released on June 12.
