Shahid Kapoor's latest film, Deva, is stirring controversy not just for its content but also for the screening experience at theaters, most recently highlighted by actor Aly Goni's disappointing visit to INOX cinema.
Aly Goni expressed his frustration on social media after attempting to watch Deva only to find the film repeatedly paused during its screening for about 20 minutes. Goni shared his experience through Instagram stories, showcasing footage of the stalled film, where Shahid Kapoor's character was shown lying on the floor after being attacked. "Yeh tab se film atki hui hai. Shahid Kapoor uthh hi nahi raha. Yeh INOX ki halat hai bhai. Dekh lo," he remarked, expressing his discontent with the theater's management.
He continued to document the experience, commenting, "Theek hai bhai phir se band ho gaya. Yeh INOX ki halat hai. Yeh panch panch hazaar (5000) ki tickets le ke, yeh dekhiye. Band! Woh bol rahe hai 15-20 minute lagenge… @inoxmovies disappointed never coming back." His post-cinema comments reflected not just his personal disappointment but also called out the high ticket prices compared to the experience received.
Despite Goni's disappointing experience, the film, Deva, directed by Rosshan Andrrews, revolves around ACP Dev Ambre, portrayed by Shahid Kapoor—a role marking his foray back to action and drama. The character, known for being impulsive and womanizing, loses his memory during the investigation of his best friend's death. This narrative is adapted from the Malayalam film Mumbai Police, which itself had garnered attention for its compelling storyline.
Alongside Kapoor, the film stars Pooja Hegde as Divya Sathaye, the journalist who becomes Dev's romantic interest, and features performances by Pavail Gulati and Kubbra Sait. The adaptation aims to retain the essence of the original film, which has made several changes to its climax twist, presumably to suit the wider audience.
Following its debut, Deva has achieved moderate success, reportedly earning over Rs 17 crore at the box office. While the initial response may appear positive, Aly Goni's experience raises questions about the quality of the viewing experience being promoted, especially at locations such as INOX.
Goni's concluding remarks on his Instagram post encapsulate the sentiments of many fans who cheered for Shahid Kapoor and expressed frustration over the experience: "Thanks to INOX, aap ki wajah se hum film nahi dekh paaye. We love you Shahid Kapoor. Ek aur attempt zaroor marenge, kyunki main sirf Shahid Kapoor ke liye gaya tha film dekhne but PVR ko chahiye nahi ki hum film dekhe and theatre kharab ho gaya hai, aawaz chal nahi rahi hai aur hum yha se nikal kar ab jaa rahe hai."
The onus now seems to be on cinema chains like INOX to address the concerns of their audiences, ensuring such experiences do not tarnish the hard work of filmmakers and actors. With the film's box office numbers and audience reviews, it remains to be seen how Deva will fare moving forward and impact Kapoor's career. While Deva tells the gripping tale of loss and redemption, Aly Goni's experience sheds light on the often overlooked side of cinema-going—the environment and facilities provided to its viewers.