Vidhu Vinod Chopra: I was told by wife to directly release 12th Fail on OTT

Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, at a recent event to celebrate the success of his film 12^th Fail, said that he was told by everyone that the film wouldn’t do well on the big screen. He also said that his wife, film critic Anupama Chopra, had even suggested that he release the Vikrant Massey and Medha Shankar starrer on OTT.

As per a report by Sacnilk.com 12^th Fail was made on a budget of roughly Rs 20 crore and went on to collect Rs 55.63 crore nett in India in its theatrical run. The film has been running in theatres for over 100 days now, despite its OTT release in December.

“When I was making the film (12^th Fail), I was told by everyone, including my dearest wife (film critic Anupama Chopra), to put it out on OTT. She said, ‘Nobody will go to see Vinod! Teri aur Vikrant ki film (It is your and Vikrant's film)!’. On top of this, these (trade) agencies were writing that the film will open at Rs 2 lakh and do a lifetime business of ₹30 lakh. Everyone scared me,” he said.

“When we talk about numbers, Rs 100 crore, now there’s Rs 500 crore, Rs 1,000 crore, Rs 2,000 crore, but to me it boils down to one thing: 'What is your intention, why are you making that film?' You make an honest film and it can reach those numbers,” he said.

12th Fail is based on a true story and draws from the struggles of the millions of students who attempt the UPSC entrance exam. Besides Vikrant and Medha, the film also stars Harish Khanna, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Anant Joshi, among others. It is based on Anurag Pathak's novel of the same name, about the journey of IPS officer Manoj Kumar Sharma and IRS officer Shraddha Joshi.