A bad year doesn't dent stature of superstars: Abundantia's Vikram Malhotra

Producer Vikram Malhotra of Abundantia Entertainment believes one under-performing year cannot weaken the dominance of superstars in the Hindi film industry.

In 2018, films headlined by three Khans -- "Zero" of Shah Rukh Khan, Salman's "Race 3" and Aamir Khan-starrer "Thugs of Hindostan" -- did not do well at the box office, whereas small-budget movies like "Badhaai Ho", "Raazi" and "Stree" did exceptionally well.

The producer says while the audiences want high-quality stories, they are also equally interested in watching a star-driven film.

"The stars, which we are talking about, have been stars for a quarter of a century or more in some cases and have continued to be relevant for the audience across generations. They have delivered countless number of hits and so one under-performing film or one bad year does not dent them in any manner," Malhotra told PTI in an interview.

The producer, who has frequently collaborated with one of Bollywood's most bankable actors Akshay Kumar, believes that "the marriage between the stories and the stars that headline them" now needs to be perfect.

"You can't take a bad story and headline with a star and make it a hit. Similarly, you can't stake a good story and feel it can't work because it does not have a big star toplining it."