Sabbir Khan Reflects on Launching New Talent and the Evolution of Mass Cinema

Director Sabbir Khan recently discussed his film Nikamma (2022), starring Shilpa Shetty, Abhimanyu Dassani, and Shirley Setia. A remake of the 2017 Telugu film Middle Class Abbayi, the film faced an abysmal box office performance after releasing in theatres on June 17, 2022. Khan explained that the film was conceptualized and made at a different time, and the two-year lockdown period significantly changed audience viewing patterns.

Addressing the challenges faced by the film industry, Khan noted that many films struggled that year and pointed to an ongoing sentiment against Bollywood. However, he expressed hope that filmmakers have learned that audiences no longer want mediocre content.

Reflecting on his career, Khan began with Kambakkht Ishq (2009) and went on to launch new talent. His film Heropanti (2014) marked the Bollywood debut of Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon, while his 2017 film Munna Michael featured the debut of Nidhhi Agerwal. Khan stated that introducing newcomers, both actors and technicians, becomes a filmmaker's glory.

Khan also confirmed that he remains in touch with Tiger Shroff, noting that they speak, take each other's advice, and are like family. Additionally, he mentioned that Kriti Sanon recently shared that he sent her a message after watching her in Cocktail 2 (2026).

Discussing the genre of mass cinema, which he tackled in films like Heropanti and Baaghi (2016), Khan emphasized that the definition has changed. Because the mass audience is now more educated and exposed to social media and world events, he believes mass cinema must reach maximum people with intellect rather than recycling old tropes. Khan is currently back in the writing room working on new story ideas.