Rahul Bose Says Audience Does Not Care About Movies Entering Film Festivals!

Rahul Bose's Film Entering In Film Festivals

Actor Rahul Bose is gearing up for the release of his upcoming spy-thriller, Berlin. Directed by Atul Sabharwal, the film stars Aparshakti Khurana and Ishwak Singh in key roles and has already made rounds at several film festivals ahead of its premiere on ZEE5 this Friday, September 13. The film had its world premiere at the 2023 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles and was later screened at the 2023 Mumbai Film Festival, the 2024 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, the Habitat Film Festival, and the Red Lorry Film Festival. Notably, Ishwak Singh won the Best Actor Award for his role at the Stars Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF) in Los Angeles.

In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Rahul Bose, Aparshakti Khurana, and Ishwak Singh discussed the significance of films being featured at festivals and whether it impacts audience reception.

When asked about the importance of festivals, Rahul Bose expressed that festival participation no longer holds the same value as it once did. He remarked, “Nobody cares if a film goes to a festival anymore. Thirty years ago, when I started with English August, it mattered. Now, no one cares.” He emphasized that word of mouth plays a bigger role in a film's success today, saying, "People will ask their friends if a film is good, and if their friend recommends it, they’ll watch it. Nobody cares if it’s been to a festival or won awards. They just trust the opinions of people they know."

Bose added that even when audiences enjoy a film, they rarely mention its festival accolades. He clarified, "No one cares about festivals anymore."

On the topic of awards, Bose noted that winning an award at a festival can still make a difference, especially for actors. He said, “Getting an award as an actor still matters because acting is acting.” However, he pointed out that the prestige of festivals has diluted, saying, “Festivals have become categorized into top festivals, second-tier, third-tier, even things like ‘South Bombay, Napensea Road Ward No. 6 festival.’ It’s ridiculous. But winning an award for best actor or director still holds value.”

The trio even joked about the possibility of future Instagram film festivals or private theatre festivals.

Bose also expressed disdain for the term “festival film,” which he considers derogatory within the industry. He explained, “When the industry calls something a festival film, it’s almost an insult. It implies that the movie won’t perform well at the box office. They think only intellectuals will appreciate it, while everyone else will find it boring and a waste of time. Berlin is not a festival film. That label is condescending and shouldn’t be used. Who knows who will like the film or who won’t? Don’t box it in.”

Set in New Delhi, India, in 1993, Berlin tells the story of a deaf-mute young man, played by Ishwak Singh, who is wrongfully accused of being a foreign spy. Aparshakti Khurana portrays a sign language expert brought in to assist in the government's interrogation. As the investigation deepens, the lines between guilt and innocence blur, and the sign language expert becomes caught in a web of deceit and political intrigue.