'We need to learn from old films', Jackky Bhagnani told how films will become hits now

"People say ticket prices are high, but I believe that people's time is the most expensive. Today's Gen Z generation wants to experience old films. This is the reason why they are preferring to go to theaters and watch old films even though they are available online." Actor-turned-producer Jackky Bhagnani said these things while speaking at Waves Summit 2025.

Today is the last day of the Waves Summit 2025, organized in Mumbai. Meanwhile, actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani also became a part of this summit. Participating in a discussion on ‘Beyond Nostalgia: The Business of Restored Classics’, Jackky Bhagnani shared his experience about the new world of cinema. He explained why classic films attract audiences and how today’s filmmakers can take inspiration from past films and the past.

Recalling the decade from 1970 to 2000, Jackky said, “The makers of the films of that time have done a great job with limited resources and have given memorable stories. This was possible due to brilliant writing and honest work. Even today I am impressed by those films. I keep asking myself how did they do it back then?”

On restoring old films and bringing them back in good quality, Jackie said, “Restoring films and bringing them back in good quality is not just about scanning old prints. Imagine using technology to bring back Mr Bachchan’s iconic character from ‘Silsila’. That too is a way of saving it and bringing it back in a new way. To be honest, that excites me.”

Answering the question of what makes a film successful today, Jackie said, “There is no one answer to this. We re-released ‘Rehnaa Hai Tere Dil Mein’ and it did well. We thought ‘Biwi No. 1’ would do even better, but it didn’t live up to expectations. The mood of the audience keeps changing. Looking back, you can try to understand it. But the best thing is that it is 50% data and 50% guts. If you can combine the two, you can increase your chances.”