Fixed on the budget

The success of a film depends on various aspects – content, star power, distribution and promotion, but right budgeting plays a crucial role. Many industry experts believe that if a project is made with the budget it deserves, only then the project is profitable. 

In the past, there have been instances of great content-driven films failing at the box office simply because the makers went overboard with the budget. On the other hand, several projects have made profits because the makers stuck to the budget. Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer Stree, which earned over Rs 100 crore, was made on a budget of Rs 20 crore. Badhaai Ho, starring Ayushmann Khuranna, was made on a budget of Rs 30 crore and went on to collect Rs 130 crore. Raazi made on a budget of Rs 40 crore went on to gross more than 150 crore. 

Secret Superstar, which collected more than Rs 200 crore, was made on a budget of Rs 15 crore. 2 States, starring Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, which had a budget of Rs 25 crore, became a blockbuster after it garnered more than Rs 110 crore. And the list goes on. 

Producer Shaailesh R Singh, who recently produced Judgementall Hai Kya and Jabariya Jodi, says that films should be made on a budget that works in the worst case scenario. “I firmly believe that if you fail on the budget, you fail with the film. The kind of team and actors I work with, I make sure that we stick to the budget. Among the 10 films that I have backed, I have been successful with seven to eight films by sticking to the right budget,” he says. 

To this, Rohit Shelatkar, co-producer of Panipat: The Great Betrayal, adds, “I agree that a budget is important for any film. A producer must be certain that the budgeting has been carried out by working backwards from a conservative revenue forecast.”

Today, budget has become even more important because of the different content available on the small as well as big screen. In addition to that, viewers can consume different kind of content at a minimal cost on the digital platform.  

Producer Sabina Khan, known for backing films like Rowdy Rathore and Gabbar is Back, says that the sale of the film has to be equal to the budget of the project. “Only then the film will be profitable. No matter what kind of film you make, you have to plan the economics,” he adds. 

Singh believes that when the budget fails, one has to depend on the destiny of the film. But the task of making the film economically viable while still worthy of being watched and enjoyed by audiences, lies in the hands of those involved in producing it. “We should not fail in these two areas. We have to understand the nature of the subject, how experimental and accessible it is before working on the economics of the project,” he adds.   

Many new-age producers and filmmakers prefer sticking to the planned budget. Shelatkar says that working within the budget is as important as planning it. “Delivering the best output from a planned budget is most imperative,” he adds.