Khichdi actor Rajiv Mehta says he didn’t find Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Pathaan extraordinary: “But it did great business; success of a film and the content are never interrelated”

It’s rare to see a film being made on a TV show in India. Khichdi was one such film that was made after its character became a rage on the small screen. The first part, released in 2010, did decent business, which motivated the makers to make a sequel, Khichdi 2. It was released on November 17 last year and sadly, the collections didn’t even cross Rs. 5 crores mark. Rajiv Mehta, one of the leading actors of the film, was asked to comment on the film’s box office performance. He spoke about it and also opened up on Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster Pathaan and Manoj Bajpayee’s much-loved OTT film, Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai.

Talking about Khichdi 2, Rajiv Mehta said, “There were no stars in the film. Today, a viewer spends money to watch a film in a theatre for a star. Occasionally there could be a good film doing well but I have realized that the success of a film and the content are never interrelated.”

He then gave instances to prove his point, “I watched Pathaan recently and didn’t find the film to be extraordinary but it did great business. On the other hand, I watched Manoj Bajpayee’s film Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai and I loved it. Manoj is again an underrated actor, who is getting his due now.”

Besides Rajiv Mehta, Khichdi 2 also starred Supriya Pathak, J D Majethia, Vandana Pathak and Anang Desai. The film begins with Kushal (Anant Vidhaat) of TIA (Thodi Intelligent Agency) meeting Hansa (Supriya Pathak), Himanshu (J D Majethia), Praful (Rajeev Mehta), Jayshree (Vandana Pathak) and Babuji (Anang Desai) and asking them for help. He wants them to go to a country called Paanthukistan. The dictator ruler of Paanthukistan, Imam Kha Ke Thuk (Rajeev Mehta), looks like Praful. Hence, the plan is that Hansa, Himanshu, Jayshree and Babuji should enter Paanthukistan, kidnap the ruler and Praful should then pretend to be Imam Kha Ke Thuk.