
When the first screenings of Mirzapur: The Movie rolled out on September 4, the buzz was less about hype and more about a crowd that didn’t want to leave. The 2‑hour‑40‑minute crime saga, shot in the rain‑slick streets of the city, surprised even the most seasoned film‑goers with a packed house that hummed louder than the soundtrack.
Gurmmeet Singh told the Free Press Journal that the franchise’s fan base had always been huge, but seeing them physically in theatres was a different story. He recalled the 2018 MAMI festival where two pilot episodes of Season 1 stole the show, proving the world of Mirzapur could translate to a silver‑screen spectacle. Ritesh Sidhwani has been a vocal advocate for a big‑screen version since 2019, and the director said, "We finally cracked it, and the crowd’s reaction made it all worth it."
Meanwhile, Hanuman Ansh, a devotional drama that feels like a breath of fresh air, has been a box‑office juggernaut too. By its 51st day it crossed ₹350 crore, a milestone that speaks volumes about the Indian audience’s hunger for varied content. The film’s success shows that a story centered on faith can compete with high‑octane gangster flicks.
The director’s take on the stark contrast between the two films is that it proves cinema halls are still a battleground for diverse storytelling. "It’s amazing how people can switch from a gritty crime drama to a devotional epic and keep the theatres full," Singh added. "That faith in the cinema experience is what keeps the industry alive."
Looking ahead, Gurmmeet is sharpening his pencils for a new web series, Pan Parda Zarda, featuring Mona Singh, Tanvi Azmi and Tanya Maniktala. He also has two streaming shows and a feature film in the pipeline under his production banner, Cheetah on the Moon. The director’s next move could well be another genre mash‑up that keeps audiences guessing.
For now, the double‑hit weekend will linger in the memory of every theatre owner and film buff. Gurmmeet Singh’s ability to pull off two wildly different successes gives a shot of hope to filmmakers hoping to balance artistic ambition with box‑office viability. The next chapter promises more surprises—stay tuned.