Rohit Shetty says he would have earned three times more profit for 'Sooryavanshi' if he sold it to OTT platform: 'Akshay Kumar supported me'

Rohit Shetty is known for making the most massy blockbusters - be it 'Singham' or 'Golmaal'. His films are largely associated with the single screen audiences and the masses in theatres. Which is why, the film-maker always preferred that medium even when it came to the release of his film 'Sooryavanshi' which was during Covid. In a recent interview, Shetty revealed that he would have earned three times more profit if he had sold the movie to an OTT platform.
The director said during a chat with Komal Nahta on 'Game Changers', "I was the most worried during Sooryavanshi’s release. It was the biggest risk. We were reopening theatres. They were at 50% capacity. The audience was masked. We had to follow protocol, leave alternate seats empty." But Shetty wanted to help the theatre owners who suffered severe losses during the film.
He added, "“Theatre owners were bleeding at that time. We used to get a lot of calls. Sometimes we helped out the small theatres as well, like helping the projectionist. It went off well. Somebody had to take that risk. Otherwise I’d have earned three times the profit had it released online. You can talk to Akshay also. You can ask Netflix."

Shetty also expressed how the producer and Akshay supported him in this decision. "I’d have gotten money while sitting at home during Covid. But I thought let’s not (release Sooryavanshi on OTT). Akshay also supported that. Reliance (Entertainment, co-producer) also stood by me. And the film released in theatres after two years," said the director.
In the same interview, the film-maker also opened up on rumours of his fall-out with Shah Rukh Khan after 'Dilwale'. He said, "Nahi, aisa nahi hai. Ek respect hai humare beech me aur Dilwale ke baad ye hua ki immediately phir humne humare khud ki production house kholi. Humne decide kiya ki hum khud ki filmein banayenge. Agar loss bhi ho to humara ho, jabki loss nahi hua tha."