The highly anticipated film Fighter, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, had a lukewarm reception at the box office. Despite a slight surge in viewership on Republic Day, the aerial action thriller faced a significant decline in audience numbers on Monday, signaling a disappointing outcome. Adding fuel to the fire, a recent statement made by director Siddharth Anand has ignited a storm on social media platforms.

During an interview with Baradwaj Rangan on Galatta Plus, Siddharth Anand was questioned about Fighter's sluggish start. His response, lasting about 40 seconds, has sparked widespread mockery and ridicule online. The director attributed the film's lackluster performance to the disconnect felt by the masses, citing that 90% of India's population has never experienced air travel. This remark quickly went viral, with '90% of Indians' trending on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter).

(Image Credit: Bollywood Hungama)

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Siddharth Anand stated, "If you realize, there is a huge percentage of our country - I would say 90% - who have not flown in planes and who have not been to an airport. So, how do you expect them to know what's happening in the air? (This) is my dissection. So, they felt that this was a little alien."

He further elaborated, "How much percentage of our population has a passport? And how many of them have traveled in a plane? So, you are talking about the plane's action. They have not understood what the exhilaration they are supposed to feel in the action (of Fighter). What is supposed to happen?"

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Despite the controversy surrounding his remarks, Siddharth Anand emphasized that Fighter is ultimately an emotional and relatable story that resonates with audiences on a deeper level.