The silver screen versus streaming debate continues to heat up, and it seems Bollywood’s biggest names aren’t shying away from sharing their strong opinions. Recently, actor Akshay Kumar weighed in on the hot topic of when movies should hit online platforms after their cinema run. His thoughts offered a sharp counterpoint to comments made by fellow superstar Aamir Khan.
Aamir Khan has long argued that films should appear on streaming services a full six months after they leave theaters. He believes that the current trend of releasing movies online after just two months, or eight weeks, really hurts their earnings at the box office. If viewers know they can catch a film at home so quickly, why bother buying a ticket?
But Akshay Kumar has a different take. During a chat with ABP Live, he stated that a three-month gap feels just right. He thinks six months is simply too long. After all, streaming platforms pay good money for those digital rights. They deserve to see some benefit from that deal. Akshay suggested the industry should go back to how things were before the pandemic. Back then, cinemas and streaming services lived side-by-side quite nicely, without all this fuss.
Akshay didn’t stop there. He also subtly criticized filmmakers, including himself, about how they approach these deals. He pointed out that producers are quick to grab cash from streaming platforms for digital rights. Yet, when a film doesn’t do well, they just as easily blame the streaming sites. Maybe, he mused, they should consider if they’re simply not making good enough movies. While Akshay didn’t name Aamir Khan directly, his comments certainly sounded like a response to Aamir’s stance.
Interestingly, Akshay admitted he spends a lot of time watching content on streaming services himself. He uses these platforms to scout for new talent for his own films. He firmly believes that the arrival of online platforms has actually helped everyone in the film industry. With a chuckle, Akshay added that he doesn’t have any other job besides making movies. He joked that since he isn’t highly educated, he just sticks to filmmaking. This leaves him plenty of time to binge-watch online.
Aamir Khan often talks about streaming services being a major reason for films struggling in theaters. He previously questioned why audiences would flock to cinemas if they knew a movie would be available at home shortly after release. However, Aamir also maintains that he isn’t completely against online platforms. In fact, his recent film, ‘Sitare Zameen Par,’ didn’t go to any major streaming service after its theatrical run. Instead, he opted for a pay-per-view model on YouTube.