The Gujarati film industry is celebrating a monumental achievement. 'Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate', directed by Ankit Sakhiya, has officially crossed the coveted ₹100 crore mark at the box office, etching its name in history as the first Gujarati film to reach this milestone. This unprecedented success has paved the way for its next big leap: a pan-India release.
From Debut Dream to Historic Success
For lead actor Karan Joshi, this journey is nothing short of a dream realized. In an exclusive conversation, Joshi reflected on the immense responsibility he felt from the very first day. "Since the beginning, I felt that the kind of work I wanted to do, I got that after ages," he shared. "I had to give my all to this character and not take it for granted. I was scared as it was my first film, but in the end, everything was on point."
The overwhelming public response left him emotional. "My reaction was like 'wow, people really needed this and they got it.' Somewhere this film heals something inside everyone," Joshi expressed, highlighting the deep connection the film forged with audiences. He recalled a powerful scene where Laalo entertains himself but is simultaneously hit by past mistakes. "That was tough to portray, but I managed to do that," he said, proud of seeing audiences laugh one moment and become emotional the next.
The Pan-India Ambition and a Director's Vision
Capitalizing on this historic wave, the makers have released the film's Hindi trailer, marking its official foray into the pan-Indian cinematic space. Director Ankit Sakhiya attributes the film's success to divine grace and sheer dedication. "Laalo is a product of dedication and honesty," Sakhiya stated. "I believe something truly divine transpired during the entire process of making the film, and that is why it's so fulfilling to see the enormous love."
For Karan Joshi, this expansion hasn't altered his core perspective, a grounding he credits to his theatre background. "Theatre taught me to see everything in a general perspective," he noted. "I have waited for years to do such a film and to tell this kind of story, so from now onwards too, the perspective will be the same." He is filled with a special feeling seeing his debut film reach a national audience and hopes the Hindi version receives the same love as the Gujarati original.
Advice for Aspiring Artists and Looking Ahead
Joshi ended with heartfelt advice for young artists chasing their dreams. His mantra is simple yet powerful: "Do Theatre, work on your craft, read scripts as much as you can and most importantly, don’t listen to the people and put blinders around your eyes so you can only see your goals."
Starring Karan Joshi, Reeva Rachh, Shruhad Goswami, Anshu Joshi, and Kinnal Nayak, 'Laalo' has not just broken records but has also broken new ground for regional cinema in India. Its journey from a Gujarati phenomenon to a pan-India contender signals a new chapter for the industry, proving that powerful storytelling knows no linguistic boundaries.
