'After watching the film, we were sure it would work but we didn't know to what extent.
'We didn't think we would get such an overwhelming response.
'But we were sure that the family audience would come to see the film.'
Director Rohit Shetty laughs his way to the bank.
Critics may not have been kind to Golmaal Again but director Rohit Shetty is happy that the movie, his costliest so far, is doing well at the box office.
The film, which reportedly released in 3,500 screens, opened at over ₹30 crore.
The 44-year-old filmmaker says, "Golmaal has got the highest opening and minted the fastest ₹100 crore of this year. After watching the film, we were sure it would work but didn't know to what extent. We didn't think we would get such an overwhelming response. But we were sure that the family audience would come to see the film."
The five-day domestic business of the comedy stands at ₹116.89 crore.
Shetty says he is never demotivated by reviews as he focuses on the audiences' reaction.
"This is my 10th film and 27 years as director. I know it (negative reviews) happens. (But) I don't read reviews. From the audiences' reaction and the box office collections, you come to know how much a film is loved.
"Comedy films are often looked down upon and they will never be appreciated, so you can't get depressed about it and take it seriously," he says.
With the fourth Golmaal installment, Rohit experimented by clubbing humour with an element of horror.
"I did not want it to be an all-out comedy. We did not want to make it as any other comedy film. It is my costliest film to date. We had to take this brand a notch higher. Even with Chennai Express, we added dramatic scenes in the second half," he says.
The film clashed with Aamir Khan's Secret Superstar and Rohit says that, since the Diwali slot is often seen as a face-off among big releases, it was obvious that the number of screens would be divided.
"When two films release together, you don't know what will work. Nobody can predict what is going to happen on a Friday.
"The opening numbers of Golmaal Again are the highest for this year. But if there was no clash, the opening would have been bigger. I can say this from the reaction of the audience. But, for me, ₹30 crore is also a big number," he says.
Rohit adds that the genres and aims of the two movies were different.
"If the both the films occupied the same space, then it would have been a problem for both of us," he adds.
