Exclusive - Avinash Tiwary reveals Laila Majnu was taken off theatres soon after its release

Avinash Tiwary spoke exclusively with Money Control about Laila Majnu's re release, his new movie The Mehta Boys and more.

Avinash Tiwary, who is known as one of the most versatile and fearless actors of his generation, is heaping praises for The Mehta Boys. The actor had a remarkable 2024 - with the box office success of Madgaon Express and the re-release of his film Laila Majnu with Tripti Dimri also performing exceptionally well at the box office.

In an exclusive conversation with Money Control, Avinash revealed how Laila Majnu, which is now being given a cult status, was actually taken off the theatres soon after its original release in 2018. But upon its re-release, Laila Majnu was loved and ran for as long as 25 weeks.

The film, which initially struggled at the box office on its initial release in 2018, found a new lease of life, with audiences showering it with love.

Avinash Tiwary also humbly acknowledged the impact of the re-release and said that Laila Majnu's re-release only sparked a trend in the industry.

The actor, who had made his debut in 2009, said year 2024 was a remarkable one for him as his first release of that year Madgaon Express also ran to housefull shows. Avinash said it was for the first time he saw any show housefull for his own movie and it was an amazing experience.

During the course of the interview, Avinash answered questions about The Mehta Boys, where he played the role of Amay, who has a somewhat rocky relationship with his father (Boman Irani). He also revealed that in real life his father is his guiding force. Talking about his dad, Avinash says 'he almost seems like my conscience.'

Avinash also spoke about the never ending nepotism debate and says he prefers to focus on his own journey rather than dwell on others' privileges. "I want to work harder and ensure my quality and value shine through."

Excerpts from the exclusive interview:

How would you describe your journey in 2024, especially with the success of projects like real release of Laila Majnu? 

Avinash: I think 2024 was a was a fantastic year for me. I started off with Madgaon (Express) being loved and appreciated and making those box office numbers. That was a first for me. So, the first time I saw a house full, the people screaming and jumping for you, it was it was amazing to see that with, Madgaon Express. Midway, we had, Laila Majnu re releasing. So much love flowing through. It almost completed twenty five weeks, in theaters, which is a rarity of these times. And, the love that has flown from the audiences, it's been unbelievable.

Also, you know, I I know that, somewhere people have been kind enough to say that we have been responsible for the entire re-release trend in the industry, and, I want to just bow down to that and enjoy it.

Also, releasing it on Netflix and trending, throughout November on Netflix. That was something that was an amazing feeling because it's again a rarity for for actors of today's times. So, 2024 turned out to be a year that that I did not expect to turn out this way, and it has absolutely, given me a new way of looking at life, given me a sense of, that, there is a way that that you can actually get things when you least expect it, that, the audiences are listening to you, and that, they can just wake up and show their power any given day. And I keep looking forward to their love all throughout from here on.

Ques: Your performance in The Mehta Boys has been described as soul crushing. What was your approach to portraying such an emotionally intense character, and how did you prepare for the role?

Avinash: I think when I read the script, what really transpired to me is the honesty of the, writing. And, one thing that was very, very clear to me that it has to be as honest a performance as I could. When you say soul crushing, I would like to believe that it's a compliment and and, the efforts that we have put in has has transpired well. There was a lot of rehearsals and hard work that was put in for for a month, month and a half. We used to sit for six, seven hours reading reading the script, reading the scene, breaking it down, doing our rehearsals. Not the easiest of, processes, but all that hard work, finally, when it pays off with the kind of love that's flowing in right now with people thanking me for being a part of a film like this makes everything worth it.

Ques: How has been your relationship with your father in real life?

Avinash: My relationship with my dad is very, very interesting - a man that I reach out for, when I have nowhere to go. A man that I feel that if I have any wisdom, most of it comes through from him. I'm a tributary to the river that flows with him. I keep joking that I don't know if it's a joke anymore, but I keep saying this and that's the strength that he gives me that I can take on the world, and the only person I go down to is him. He's someone who who's who I he looks through me. He looks into me, every time he's looked into my eyes, and I find him to be the most difficult person to lie to, which is why I find ways of running away from him because he almost seems like my conscience. And, so, yeah, it's a very delicate relationship, but a wholesome one, relationship that I find the most beautiful in my life.

Ques: With the re-release of Laila Majnu, what do you have to say about the film's legacy and its impact on your career?

Avinash: With the re-release of Laila Majnu, I mean, even when the film had released and taken off from the theaters immediately, the love kept pouring in for all the six years. And I feel it was just flowing in amongst the people who had seen it. And slowly, it became a whirlwind and started, spreading across across the country. It made me extremely joyous of the fact that, it has reached out to more people, and that will only add more people every day, every every year because that is what has happened until now. And it makes me believe that Laila Majnu would be a film that will be spoken about till the end of my career. Its impact on my career is too early to say it, but I know that, the release of Laila Majnu back in 02/2018 ensured that I earned a certain credibility as an actor, and all the work that has flown in post that has been because of that. I don't know how the re-release would impact me, but the release of Laila Majnu definitely has this impact on my life.

Ques: Do you think it helped pave the way for your subsequent roles?

Avinash: Not the re-release. I don't think, there has been any major shift and change in my life post the re-release of Laila Majnu except for the love flowing in. I think, it will take its due time to give me the returns that I expect of, as far as opportunities from the industries are concerned. But, I think I feel more stronger and more backed by people and audiences in the industry, and I feel more confident that I than I used to.

Ques: Do you think groupism exists in the industry and it has impacted you in any way ever?

Avinash: I think groupism is a part of social, behaviour. It's a part of human behavior, and you can't deny it's part of every industry. Has it impacted? I'm sure it has impacted me. But what what I truly feel has impacted me and not just me, but people around is is the evolvement of of the consumers. We are in times, considering it's a serious question, I would want to make it make a serious answer about it. I think we are in times where what is rewarded is just the views, not the quality or the value that it offers. Hence, we are in times where we see every attempt being made to ensure that it's shocking, it can grab your attention, not necessarily of quality, and the structure and system which is biased, towards views will obviously not ensure the quality reaches out to people. I think that is where, the system and structure is at fault, and it's up to us, people like, you in the media and actors and creators like us to make this distinction very, clearly for the audiences.

Ques: What do you have to say about nepotism debate? Does it hamper the growth of actors like you or, who are from non filmy background?

Avinash: I have said this often, that a conversation on privileges or nepotism is a loser conversation because I feel even luck is a privilege. And if I sit down and only talk about the privileges that others have, I will be, ungrateful for the privileges that I have.

Hence, I want to stand and say that I want to work harder, ensure that I maintain my quality and value, and the world will wake up and, acknowledge it.

Also Read: Review of The Mehta Boys 

Ques: You have been recognized as one of the most fearless actors of your generation. How do you feel about this recognition, and what does it take for an actor to earn such a title in today's industry?

Avinash: I think, yes, there is a certain amount of fearlessness because I have nothing to lose. Very honestly, I walked in with with a desire to create a certain kind of quality as far as film acting was concerned. That is my truest desire, and I wanted to create a space for myself which was non existent, someone who could play the balancing act of being a star, who is also an actor, because I would find that very rare in our industry. And I'm glad that you can see I'm on my way to do this. I will keep working hard towards that.

Avinash Tiwary, Shreya Chaudhry and Boman Irani in 'The Mehta Boys', which released on Amazon Prime Video on February 7. (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

Ques: What type of roles or genres are you interested in exploring? Are there any particular themes or stories that resonate with you that you'd like to pursue?

Avinash: Very honestly, there's only one thought that comes to my mind. If you ask me what I want to do next, it would be Bond, James Bond.

Ques: Over the years, you have transitioned from struggling to find a footing in the industry to becoming a celebrated actor. How do you see your journey?

Avinash: Very honestly, I have always believed that I'm a star the day I started. Just because my light hasn't reached you doesn't mean I don't exist. That's been my driving force. I have never found myself to be a struggler. I've always found the day I started is the day I arrived. Because the joy of what I do is absolutely beautiful. Yes, I might have more people who see my work today, and I would like to believe it would only grow from here on. But at this point in time, I'm just thriving on the opportunities that have come, the opportunity that I have to do the variety of roles that are offered to me with the top producers of this country, which is not very, which is very rare for most actors around. So I need to be grateful about it, and I am.

Ques: What inspired you to take on the role in The Mehta Boys? It's the writing of the film. It's something that was so relatable. It felt like it warmed my heart. I knew that this was something special.

Avinash: It was written in a way that had a certain vision to it, a view, a viewpoint that is rare, a viewpoint that is sensitive yet not melodramatic, touching the chords and not really ripping you off, but making you think more. It gives you insights and puts you into questioning rather than providing you answers. And I love that.

Ques: What was the most challenging part of filming Sikandar Ka Mukandar? You surprised everyone in that role.

Avinash: The challenging part of the film was to consistently find a graph of the film because the story runs for fifteen years, and it goes through a duality. How do you maintain that graph? How do you ensure that you consistently seem believable in a part like that? That was the biggest challenge, and I want to thank Neeraj Pandey, my director, for it because he was someone who just held my hand and guided me. I did the walking around.

Ques: How do you feel about the critical acclaim for your performances in 2024?

Avinash: The critical acclaim is something that, I have always respected a lot and been blessed with because, thankfully, there has been a critical acclaim for most of my work, and I want to really thank the critics around for for that. I hope that I keep doing good work so that I stay deserving of this love, but it's time now to ensure that the critics and masses throw and shower their love on me. And it becomes all of it, all of it becomes one. And we'll not be talking about critical acclaim, but we'll be talking about a film that has reached out to everyone.

Also Read: Ranveer Allahabadia's lawyer Abhinav Chandrachud uses Nupur Sharma's name in his defense, this is how netizens reacted

Talking about Avinash, got his first major roles in TV show Yudh (2014) and then he was seen in Hindi film Tu Hai Mera Sunday (2016). He gained recognition in Laila Majnu (2018) opposite Tripti Dimri and then the supernatural film Bulbbul (2020).

He was recently seen on screen in The Mehta Boys, directed by Boman Irani, which is streaming on Amazon Prime.