Vipul K Rawal, the acclaimed writer behind films like Mission Raniganj and Batti Gul Meter Chalu, has made startling revelations about why these projects failed at the box office, pointing to questionable production decisions driven by subsidy manipulation.
The Curious Case of Mission Raniganj
While 2025 marked a remarkable turnaround for Akshay Kumar with blockbuster successes including Kesari Chapter 2, Housefull 5, and Jolly LLB 3, this resurgence followed years of disappointing performances. Among the notable post-pandemic failures was the 2023 disaster drama Mission Raniganj, directed and written by Tinu Desai and Vipul K Rawal, the same team that delivered the massive hit Rustom for Akshay Kumar.
Despite their previous success, the trio couldn't replicate their magic with Mission Raniganj, which ultimately flopped at the box office. In a candid conversation with Moviefied, Rawal shared his perspective on the film's failure, stating, "The story was decent, not that bad at all. The making was also very good, but I don't know, some projects are doomed from day one, and this was one of those projects."
Questionable Shooting Location Decision
Rawal specifically questioned the logic behind shooting a film set in West Bengal in England, suggesting subsidy manipulation played a key role. He explained, "I didn't understand why a West Bengal film was shot in England. What was the need? Just because you get some subsidy, you try to manipulate things. The British aren't fools, they would figure out the trick."
The writer revealed that this decision had serious consequences, noting, "It got even raised in the Parliament, and subsidies were cut for everyone, including those who genuinely deserved them. What was the point of taking a Bengali film to London? It just didn't make sense to me."
Similar Issues Plagued Batti Gul Meter Chalu
Rawal cited comparable problems with another film he co-wrote, Batti Gul Meter Chalu, starring Shahid Kapoor. He emphasized the director's crucial role, stating, "See, the director matters a lot. I don't know what our director was thinking, why did he move a story set in Bombay to Uttarakhand? Because there was a subsidy."
According to Rawal, director Shree Narayan Singh made the location change after securing approval from local authorities, with the writer questioning the creative justification for such a significant alteration. "He had tea with the DM, the CM approved the subsidy. There should be a reason. You can't just change the setting of a story like that," Rawal asserted.
Early Signs of Trouble
The writer admitted he realized Batti Gul Meter Chalu was doomed right from the first narration meeting with the director and Shahid Kapoor. "So in the first meeting at Shahid's house, the director brought in two new writers. I didn't know what they were talking about, but I had a feeling my film was doomed. I left it and was like, you make whatever you want," he recalled.
Rawal didn't mince words in his criticism of the director's approach, stating, "This is what happens when a director tries to become a writer. The whole story got messed up, the script was ruined. Duffer, idiot. I don't blame Shahid at all; it was entirely the director's decision to change the story and move it to Uttarakhand."
Recent Success and Industry Implications
Despite these box office disappointments, Vipul K Rawal has recently found success with the Emraan Hashmi web series Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web, which has performed exceptionally well on Netflix. His revelations about subsidy-driven production decisions highlight broader concerns within the Indian film industry about how financial incentives might sometimes compromise creative integrity and logical storytelling.
The writer's candid observations about Mission Raniganj and Batti Gul Meter Chalu serve as a cautionary tale for filmmakers, emphasizing that while subsidies can provide financial benefits, they shouldn't dictate fundamental creative decisions that could undermine a film's authenticity and audience appeal.
