At the trailer launch of his upcoming film O'Romeo, Vishal Bhardwaj, the celebrated director known for his Shakespearean trilogy Maqbool, Omkara, and Haider, expressed that he wouldn't be able to make a film like Haider in today's cinematic environment. Maqbool is known for its hard-hitting existential narrative, Omkara for its inventive storytelling, and Haider for its political daring.
Bhardwaj addressed the changes within the Hindi film industry over the last decade, particularly the increased corporate involvement and the emergence of OTT platforms. He stated that while he didn't have issues with corporations, the balance has been disrupted since the rise of OTT platforms. He said, "I think it was fine when corporates were there. But now, ever since the OTT platforms came in, even that balance has started to be lost. It's not that I ever had a problem with corporates, in fact, I made Haider in 2014, but I don't think I can even make a 'H' of a film like Haider in today's time".
Released in 2014, Haider, starring Shahid Kapoor and Tabu, was an adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet set in Kashmir. The film received critical acclaim, won National Film Awards, and performed well at the box office. However, it also faced protests for its portrayal of the Indian army.
Bhardwaj also addressed rumors of a rift with Shahid Kapoor at the O'Romeo trailer launch. He humorously mentioned that his friends often joke he deserves a National Award for working with Kapoor in four films, while also acknowledging he is a difficult person to work with. He praised Kapoor for understanding his "passive aggression" and handling his directing style. Bhardwaj gave Kapoor one of his biggest hits with Kaminey in 2009. The duo followed it with Haider in 2014 and Rangoon in 2017. He noted that creative disagreements are natural but have been exaggerated over the years.
Notably, despite the critical acclaim his films receive, Bhardwaj admitted in 2016 that none of his films have been major box office successes. He stated that Haider "just recovered the money".
