Junaid Khan who’s all set for the release of his film alongside Khushi Kapoor, expressed that he wants his film ‘Loveyapa’ to be on YouTube for free so that more peole can watch it.
The actor’s bold move has made headlines, leaving people question the risk he’s taking at such a ripe stage of his career. It’s a rare move in an industry that thrives on box office numbers and streaming deals, but Khan seems to be following in the footsteps of some legendary filmmakers including his father, Aamir Khan, who put art before profits.
Legacy of Risk-Takers
Junaid Khan’s decision isn’t just a random act of generosity, it’s part of a larger tradition of filmmakers who have fought for their craft, sometimes at great personal cost. And if you take a closer look at his family history, this move makes perfect sense. His father, Aamir Khan, has never shied away from challenging industry norms. When he directed ‘Taare Zameen Par’, a heartfelt film about a dyslexic child, he refused to market it with the usual Bollywood song-and-dance promotions. Instead, he focused on emotional storytelling, letting the film speak for itself. Later, he took a similar stance with ‘Dangal’, a film that became one of India's highest-grossing movies without relying on typical commercial gimmicks.
The Struggles Behind Iconic Films
But the list of passionate risk-takers in cinema goes far beyond the Khan family. Take Anurag Kashyap, for example. His now-iconic ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ a gritty, genre-defining gangster epic, almost didn’t happen. No major studio wanted to back the film, fearing its unconventional storytelling and raw violence wouldn’t sell. Kashyap, however, didn’t back down. He fought relentlessly to bring his vision to life, proving that bold storytelling could find an audience even without big-budget support.
And then there’s Satyajit Ray, a name synonymous with artistic integrity in Indian cinema. His masterpiece, ‘Pather Panchali’, is now considered one of the greatest films ever made. But back in the 1950s, no one was willing to finance his dream project. Instead of giving up, Ray took an extraordinary step; he sold his wife’s jewellery to fund the film. Later the film also received support from the Government of West Bengal and the risk paid off. ‘Pather Panchali’ went on to win international acclaim, putting Indian cinema on the global map.
Passion Over Profits
What do all these filmmakers have in common? A relentless passion for storytelling that outweighs the fear of financial loss or career setbacks. They prove that filmmaking isn’t just about box office numbers or corporate backing—it’s about telling stories that matter, even if it means taking huge personal risks.
Junaid Khan’s decision to release ‘Loveyapa’ for free might seem radical in today’s profit-driven industry, but history shows that such risks often lead to legendary results. In the end, real cinema isn’t about just making movies,it’s about making history.
About ‘Loveyapa’
'Loveyapa' is directed by Advait Chandan, featuring Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor in the lead roles. The movie is a remake of the Tamil superhit 'Love Today' and is scheduled for a theatrical release on February 7, 2025.
This film marks the theatrical debut for both Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor, as both of their respective acting debuts, ‘Maharaj’ and ‘The Archies’ had OTT releases and streamed only on Netflix. In a recent interview, Junaid expressed his idealistic wish to make 'Loveyapa' freely available on YouTube to reach a wider audience, though he acknowledged the impracticality of this approach. Now only time will tell if this can be made possible or not.
