Hansal Mehta Replies To Naga Vamsi's "Mumbai Didn't Sleep" Remark About Pushpa 2
Telugu producer Naga Vamsi made a bunch of statements in a recently held pan-India producers roundtable by Galatta Plus. Clips from the interview have been making the rounds, specifically involving Vamsi. During a discussion about Bollywood vs. cinema in the South, in the context of Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 breaking all box office records, especially in the Northern belt, Vamsi made a remark that didn’t sit well with several Hindi filmmakers.
In the interview, Vamsi claimed that Mumbai must not have slept following Pushpa 2’s collections in the country. “I don’t think all of Mumbai would have slept after Pushpa grossed 80 crores on a single day… in the Hindi belt,” said the producer.
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Reacting to the same, director Hansal Mehta replied, “Chill dude whoever you are… I live in Mumbai. Been sleeping really well.”
Known for his critically acclaimed works such as Scoop (2023), Omerta (2017), Aligarh (2015), Shahid (2012), and more, the director further wrote, “Since this person Mr Naga Vamsi was being so arrogant and now that I know who he is : His latest hit as a producer Lucky Bhaskar has borrowed liberally from the Scam series. Reason I brought this up is that I feel happy that stories travel and a film in another language suceeds in replicating what has worked for us. Everybody wins. Nobody is bigger than the other. That narrative is destructive. Arrogance is even worse. To all those haters coming at me on my TL – see you in 2025.”
Since this person Mr Naga Vamsi was being so arrogant and now that I know who he is : His latest hit as a producer Lucky Bhaskar has borrowed liberally from the Scam series. Reason I brought this up is that I feel happy that stories travel and a film in another language suceeds… https://t.co/R4oC0kNHKc
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) December 31, 2024
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Directed by Mehta, the series Scam 1992 (2020) is based on the 1992 stock market scam involving Harshad Mehta. The second installment of the series Scam 2003 (2023) was directed by Tushar Hiranandani and Mehta and is based on the counterfeiting case involving Abdul Karim Telgi in the early 2000s.
Vamsi’s remarks led to other directors reacting sharply. Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, known for Kaabil (2017), Shootout At Wadala (2013), and Shootout at Lokhandwala (2007), wrote, “We slept very peacefully and happily knowing that 86 Cr was collected by our exhibitors. Must be in your case, but other people’s success does not give us sleepless nights.”
We slept very peacefully and happily knowing that 86 Cr was collected by our exhibitors.
Must be in your case, but other people’s success does not give us sleepless nights. https://t.co/g6U75QIbyg— Sanjay Gupta (@_SanjayGupta) December 31, 2024
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Pathaan and War director Siddharth Anand also remarked, “Mumbai has always been the city that never sleeps ;) It’s ok, I guess some people don’t know our real Mumbai! And one more thing. I have infact lived ONLY in Bandra and Juhu both! Just fyi”
Mumbai has always been the city that never sleeps ;) It’s ok, I guess some people don’t know our real Mumbai! https://t.co/Wm7WxzpFIT
— Siddharth Anand (@justSidAnand) December 31, 2024
Released on December 5, Pushpa 2 has so far earned Rs 1,760 crore within 25 days, according to Mythri Movie Makers. The title of the highest grossing Indian film worldwide currently belongs to Aamir Khan’s 2016 Dangal which earned Rs 2070.3 crore. Directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2 features Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil, among others.
