Your debut film hitting the marquee is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Or twice, if you’re Avinash Tiwary. The actor is experiencing the rare phenomenon with Laila Majnu’s re-release. “Sajid Ali [director] mentioned that the last time he went to a theatre, there were only seven people watching Laila Majnu. Today, there are housefull boards running across theatres,” he grins.

The love story, also starring Triptii Dimri, had tanked on its release in 2018. In contrast, as the audience’s love has brought the film back to the screen today, Tiwary feels vindicated. “The film is available on OTT and YouTube. I have been told people don’t go to cinemas today, and then to see people flocking to theatres [for Laila Majnu] is magical. This has happened due to public demand. People called for it, and when the opportunity came, went all out to show their love.” The re-release’s collection has surpassed that of its original release within four days. This also underlines the actor’s belief that art should be made for longevity. “We’ll hopefully inspire people to look at art for longevity, and not as a trade market. Today, we try to lure and manipulate audiences, but if we value their love, we should be honest with them.”