Actor-producer Manasi Parekh has spoken about the increasing cost of filmmaking, saying regional cinema continues to function with far fewer resources than the Hindi film industry.Sharing her perspective in a chat with Variety, she explained that Gujarati and Marathi filmmakers have learned to create quality films while working within tight financial limits. According to Manasi, the production environment in regional cinema is very different from that of mainstream Hindi films. She believes filmmakers in these industries are accustomed to carefully managing budgets and making the best use of available resources.
Recalls Farah Khan ‘s memorable remark
While discussing the difference in production scales, Manasi shared an interesting anecdote involving filmmaker Farah Khan. She recalled that Farah was surprised after learning about the budget of one of her films and made a light-hearted observation that highlighted the gap between regional and Hindi cinema.She said, “When Farah Khan visited our home recently, she said, ‘We spend the cost of your entire film on one song’.” Manasi also revealed that there were discussions about remaking the Gujarati horror-comedy ‘Jhamkudi’ in Hindi. According to her, the estimated budget increased almost tenfold during those conversations, underlining the significant difference in production expenditure between the two industries.
Regional cinema operates differently
The actor further explained that performers working in Gujarati and Marathi cinema do not enjoy the same level of production facilities or on-set luxuries often associated with Hindi films. She noted that the Hindi film industry naturally commands larger investments because of its wider audience, stronger distribution network, and greater commercial reach. At the same time, Manasi acknowledged that discussions around escalating production costs have become increasingly common across the industry. She believes the distinction between essential spending and excessive expenditure has gradually become blurred. She said, “I feel that the boundaries of how much is too much are kind of getting blurred. And people are feeling that pinch. Even the biggest of producers, the biggest of production houses, are talking about this now. So I think they should learn from the regional industries.”
Shares her view on small films
Speaking about the changing entertainment landscape, Manasi also opened up on how smaller films are released today. She suggested that projects similar in scale to Udaan might now find a home on streaming platforms instead of receiving a theatrical release. She also pointed to films such as ‘Laapataa Ladies’ and ’12th Fail’, saying they benefited from strong backing that helped them connect with audiences. According to her, support from established producers and distributors can make a significant difference to the journey of content-driven cinema.
Upcoming projects of Manasi Parekh
On the work front, the production house co-founded by Manasi Parekh, has announced two upcoming films. The banner is preparing to release ‘Mitrata’ and ‘Adbhoot’.
