When a film is being made, it is the producer’s money that is on the line. When a film doesn’t perform well at the box office, producers face massive financial losses that could threaten their careers. The stakes are high, and a flop can lead to severe consequences, including debt and the need for drastic measures to recover financially.
Actor and producer Vidyut Jammwal experienced this firsthand with the massive failure of his film “Crakk,” which he produced. Made on a budget of Rs 45 crore, the movie only managed to earn Rs 17 crore at the box office.
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This followed the poor performance of his previous film, the spy thriller “IB17,” which he co-produced. “IB17” earned Rs 29 crore against a budget of Rs 40 crore, marking Jammwal’s second consecutive box office disappointment, reported Mid-day.
In an interview with Zoom, Jammwal opened up about the financial loss he faced and the unconventional steps he took to recover.
“I lost a lot of money (because of Crakk’s failure). The most important thing for me was, how will I deal with it. With losing money comes a lot of advice. People who’ve lost money in the past and friends who really care about you… It was important for me to disconnect from all the advice,” he said.
To deal with the financial crisis, Vidyut Jammwal joined a French circus and spent time with contortionists to find solace and clarity.
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“After the release of Crakk, I joined a French circus and spent about 14 days with these elite human beings. I spent time with this contortionist. A contortionist is someone who can make their bodies reach certain levels which are nearly impossible. So, when I’m watching a contortionist, in my head, it’s like, ‘Oh my God, how can somebody be like this’. I’m the smallest person in that room when I’m in a circus like that. I spent some time with those guys, and by the time I came back to Mumbai, everything had calmed down.”
Remarkably, Jammwal managed to become debt-free just three months after the film’s release.
“When I came back, I sat down and thought, ‘Okay, I’ve lost so many crores, now what do we do?’ And I have to tell you, in three months, I’m debt-free. It’s a miracle.”
Jammwal’s story gives such a refreshing perspective on how to recover mentally from losses first. Don’t you think?