Bollywood’s theatrical versus digital release debate has intensified as two industry heavyweights stake opposing positions. While Aamir Khan continues championing a six-month buffer between cinema halls and streaming platforms, Akshay Kumar has publicly disagreed, arguing for a more balanced approach that considers all stakeholders.
Three Months Is Sufficient, Says Akshay
Speaking with ABP Live, Kumar advocated for a three-month theatrical window, emphasizing that OTT platforms investing substantial sums in digital rights deserve timely returns. “Six months is too long because at the end of the day, the OTT platform is paying you for the digital rights. They also need to benefit from the deal,” the actor-producer explained.
Kumar suggested the industry should revert to pre-pandemic practices where theaters and streaming services coexisted harmoniously. He pointed out an inconsistency in producer attitudes: “When it comes to digital rights sale, producers happily take money from the OTT platform. But when we want to, we also conveniently say our films aren’t working because of OTT. We don’t consider that maybe we’re not making the right films.”
Personal OTT Consumption and Talent Scouting
The superstar revealed he’s an avid OTT consumer himself, using platforms both for entertainment and professional purposes—specifically talent scouting for his productions. “I don’t have any other work than making movies. Since I’m not educated, I do only movies. So, I get a lot of time to watch OTT,” Kumar shared candidly.
Reflecting on his career trajectory, he acknowledged the role of fortune alongside effort: “Thirty percent is hard work, which should feel like you’ve done 100% hard work, but you also need that 70% luck to make it. When I enter a studio, I often see a struggler better looking, a better dancer, and who does better action than me, but he hasn’t gotten a chance yet.”
The Aamir Khan Perspective
Kumar’s stance contrasts sharply with Aamir Khan’s position. The perfectionist has consistently criticized shortened release windows, blaming them for declining theater attendance. His view intensified after experiencing firsthand how Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies struggled theatrically but became a streaming sensation on Netflix, reinforcing his belief that a minimum six-month gap is essential for theatrical viability.
Currently, most Bollywood releases follow an eight-week theatrical-to-digital model, leaving the industry divided on what serves its long-term interests best.
