Aanand L Rai Reflects on Raksha Bandhan's Failure

Filmmaker Aanand L Rai is candidly reflecting on the shortcomings of his film Raksha Bandhan, which starred the popular actor Akshay Kumar. In a recent interview, Rai acknowledged that he misjudged his audience's expectations, leading to the film's failure at the box office. This admission comes as a surprise to many, considering Rai's reputation for engaging storytelling.

During his conversation with Galatta Plus, Rai revealed that this was the first time he aimed to cater to a specific audience rather than focusing solely on a compelling narrative. He said, “I totally faltered there.” This highlights his realization that sometimes, filmmakers may stray from their instinctual storytelling to meet perceived audience demands.

Rai further explained that the decision to move forward with Raksha Bandhan was flawed from the get-go. He clarified that the film’s underperformance had nothing to do with box office numbers, stating that he has faced failure even with projects he was confident about. The core issue, he believes, lay in the flawed motivation behind the film's inception.

Taking full responsibility for the film's outcome, Rai described Raksha Bandhan as a miscalculation influenced by misplaced expectations. He emphasized that the script was not the problem; instead, it was his direction and how he approached the film that fell short. “The problem was with the director and the expectation from this director,” he asserted.

Despite the challenges faced during the project, Rai expressed his enjoyment of working with Akshay Kumar, praising the actor's commitment and performance. However, he admitted that his own creative vision did not align with the rhythm necessary for the film's success. “Somewhere, it didn’t land the way I was looking at it,” he noted, reflecting the disappointment that often accompanies such creative endeavors.

Raksha Bandhan, released in August 2022, tells the story of Lala Kedarnath (played by Akshay Kumar) and his four sisters, focusing on themes of family, marriage, dowry, and body shaming. While the film boasted a talented cast, including Bhumi Pednekar, it ultimately failed to resonate with audiences as intended, prompting Rai's introspection and lessons learned for future projects.