Bollywood’s much-anticipated aerial action film, Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, graced the screens on January 25, 2024, but unfortunately fell short of its anticipated impact, citing various reasons.

Director Siddharth Anand candidly acknowledged the film’s underperformance and shared insights on audience reactions, sparking a heated discussion on social media. Addressing one of the reasons behind Fighter’s letdown, Siddharth expressed, “It’s a space that is unexplored and absolutely new. It has no reference point for the audience. They are like, ‘What are these planes doing?'”

Elaborating on the matter, he added, “Around 90% of our country’s population has not experienced flying in planes or visited an airport. So, how would they comprehend what’s happening in the movie? It seemed a bit alien to them. They didn’t fully grasp the exhilaration of the air action, resulting in an initial disconnect. But once you step into the theatre, you realize this is such a basic film.”

These comments ignited controversy online, with many netizens labeling them as ‘dumb.’ The reaction has paved the way for Siddharth Anand’s forthcoming explanations.

The film, featuring Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover, and Akshay Oberoi, garnered support from Viacom18 Studios and Marflix Pictures. Vishal and Shekhar crafted the musical score. Stay tuned for updates on Siddharth Anand’s perspective.