David Dhawan Says ‘Kalank’ Failure Left Him Depressed, Jokes About Sanjay Dutt Reaction in Bollywood Film Setback - 89.1 Radio 4 FM

Filmmaker David Dhawan has opened up about the emotional impact of the Kalank box office failure 2019, revealing that the big-budget Bollywood film left him “depressed” after it failed to meet expectations. Speaking at the David Dhawan Film Festival in Mumbai, the director reflected on how the scale and pressure of the project made the setback more difficult to absorb, especially given the hype around the film and its ensemble cast. The Kalank failure Bollywood industry reaction also became a talking point during the session, as Dhawan discussed how even experienced filmmakers are affected by box office outcomes.

David Dhawan also shared a humorous anecdote about actor Sanjay Dutt, who starred in Kalank. Referring to the Sanjay Dutt Kalank reaction, he jokingly asked why the actor chose the film, adding, “Tu kyun kiya yeh picture? Madhuri Dixit thi isliye?” His comment drew laughter from the audience as he recalled that Dutt was visibly upset during the shoot of the film.

Varun Dhawan, who joined his father at the event, also spoke about handling failure in Bollywood and how early setbacks shaped his career. David Dhawan further recalled receiving a message from Amitabh Bachchan after Student of the Year, calling Varun a “lambi race ka ghoda.”

The conversation highlighted the unpredictable nature of the Bollywood box office failures and success journey, where even high-profile projects like Kalank can underperform despite huge expectations.