Chopra reveals 'Raajneeti's' success secret

Anupama Chopra has claimed that Prakash Jha's political movie Raajneeti has been popular with Indian audiences because it is engaging.

The film critic also said that Bollywood films do not have to be funny to be popular anymore but that India still isn't ready for western cinema.

"Raajneeti has a powerful and engrossing script. The story and characters are engaging a lot of people. It goes a long way to prove that films don’t have to be funny and entertaining in the basic sense of the word. These days, if a film is engaging, it is entertaining and that’s what people grab," Chopra told IANS.

"Our audience has definitely become more sophisticated and intelligent over the past 15-20 years and is totally open to every kind of movie - which is wonderful. But it is a generalisation to say the audience has become discerning.

"The audience is more visually exposed these days. But that doesn’t mean they are ready for arty, European cinema. There’s still a long way to go."

Raajneeti made more than 620 million Rupees (more than £9 million) in its opening weekend.

Jha said: "I am very afraid to make films like these. It is not easy to work on these subjects because you just can’t go wrong. Then there is also the uncertainty of whether or not the audience will accept the film. It is all very risky, but I am glad people are taking it well."