Director Om Raut recently faced criticism after referring to Prabhas and Salman Khan as “flop-proof stars”. Despite the box office success of Adipurush, the movie received mixed reactions, leading to widespread trolling of Raut across social media. In a recent interview with Amol Parchure, conducted in Marathi, Raut opened up about the challenges he faced after the film’s release and the impact of the harsh criticism on his public appearances.
During the interview, Raut explained why he had kept a low profile since the release of Adipurush. He admitted that the intense trolling had affected him deeply, causing him to withdraw from public life for a time. However, he emphasized that he continued working daily with his team behind the scenes. Reflecting on his time away, Raut shared that he had been focused on his work, despite the negative attention.
When asked about the reception of Prabhas’ previous films like ‘Saaho’ and ‘Radhe Shyam,’ which were commercially successful but received lukewarm responses from audiences, Raut dismissed the notion that these films had a negative impact on ‘Adipurush.’ He confidently stated, “Om Raut calls Prabhas and Salman Khan ‘flop-proof stars.’ It doesn’t matter to them or their fan base. Their image and perception are so strong that even if a few films don’t perform well, it doesn’t affect their stardom. In the end, it’s Salman Khan, and it’s Prabhas.”
Raut further elaborated, saying, “The love and admiration they receive are immense, and they are beyond such setbacks.” Although his intention was to praise the enduring popularity of these actors, his remarks didn’t sit well with netizens. Many took to social media to express their disapproval, with comments on platforms like Reddit highlighting the irony of Raut’s statement. One user remarked, “You made a flop and now you’re calling the stars flop-proof,” while another sarcastically added, “He directed ‘Adipurush’ just to prove his point.”
Before ‘Adipurush,’ Om Raut achieved significant success with his previous film, ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior,’ which won three National Awards, including Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Given the high expectations following ‘Tanhaji,’ the mixed reception of ‘Adipurush’ was particularly disappointing for many fans. Reflecting on the criticism, Raut acknowledged that it is a part of the filmmaking process. “People will criticize because they’re paying for the tickets and watching your film. If it doesn’t meet their expectations, they have every right to voice their opinions,” he said.
