Hansal Mehta’s response to Naga Vamsi’s comment about Pushpa 2: The Rule and its massive success seems to reflect a mixture of frustration and a desire to deflate what he perceives as an inflated sense of self-importance. Vamsi, the producer of Pushpa 2, had made a bold statement about how Mumbai didn’t sleep after the film’s record-breaking ₹80 crore day, suggesting the film’s success was so monumental that it had everyone in the city buzzing. Hansal, clearly unimpressed, took to social media to call Vamsi “arrogant,” while also claiming that Vamsi’s recent project, Lucky Bhaskar, had borrowed heavily from his own successful series, Scam 1992 and Scam 2003.
Hansal’s tweet, which was a blend of both a personal dig and professional commentary, pointed out that despite Pushpa 2’s huge success, he felt that the whole narrative of who is “bigger” or “better” in the industry was destructive. For him, the idea that a single film or producer should hold a monopoly on success was counterproductive. He emphasized that stories, regardless of their language or origin, succeed because of their universal appeal, not because of one individual’s arrogance or dominance.
His reference to Lucky Bhaskar borrowing from his Scam series appears to be a pointed remark, possibly calling out the similarities between his well-known work and the new project. He takes a somewhat diplomatic tone by claiming to be happy that Scam’s storytelling has traveled and inspired others, while also asserting that there should be humility in recognizing shared influences. However, the comment about “arrogance” suggests that Hansal doesn’t appreciate the tone in which Vamsi discussed Pushpa 2’s success.
The specific remark “Chill dude whoever you are… I live in Mumbai. Been sleeping well” is a humorous and slightly sarcastic way for Hansal to poke fun at Vamsi’s grandiose statement, suggesting that the producer’s hyperbole was not nearly as impactful in the real world as it might have seemed in the media. It’s a reminder that, while the film industry might be buzzing about the success of Pushpa 2, the everyday realities of people in Mumbai remain unaffected.
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Hansal also appears to be positioning himself against a broader cultural narrative where certain people or films are put on a pedestal in an exaggerated manner. His tweet stresses that “Everybody wins” and no one person or project should be considered greater than the collective effort that drives the industry.
It’s also noteworthy that Hansal signed off by telling the “haters” on his timeline, “See you in 2025.” This suggests that he might be preparing for something big, perhaps an upcoming project or a moment of reckoning with the people he’s addressing. Whether this is a direct hint at something in the works or just a figurative expression of his resilience remains to be seen.
This back-and-forth between Hansal Mehta and Naga Vamsi is emblematic of the competitive, sometimes contentious nature of the Indian film industry, where filmmakers, producers, and stars regularly find themselves in the spotlight—both for their successes and their sometimes polarizing public personas. Hansal’s response reminds us that, while films like Pushpa 2 may be breaking records, the conversation surrounding success in the industry can be just as complicated as the art itself.
