Vikrant Massey has stepped into production with Musafir Cafe, the first title from his banner Homemade Stories. The National Award-winning actor could have announced himself with a starry, large-scale project. Instead he chose a story built on everyday emotions and human connections – and he argues that is exactly the point.
At the ET Summit, Massey was asked why he picked a relatively simple story over a big-budget film for a debut. His answer was a challenge to the language the industry now uses. “Big film” and “small film”, he said, have become normal words, and he has a problem with that.
“It really doesn’t matter how big or how small a film is,” he said. “What really matters in the world of storytelling is, if it is a good film or a bad film.”
His objection is not a passing remark. Massey said the frustration has been building over the last few years, and he hopes Homemade Stories can help change how the industry talks about projects.
The box office argument
Massey’s proof is his own 12th Fail. He said the film was technically the smallest of its year in production budget and number of screens. What followed, though, was anything but small.
The film ran for eight months in theatres – the longest new-millennium run after Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which continues to play at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir. In the multiplex age, where most titles struggle past a third weekend, an eight-month run is a stronger audience verdict than a large opening figure.
What Homemade Stories stands for
The banner’s name, Massey said, carries the same philosophy. He wants to tell relatable stories that impact viewers and stay with them. That does not rule out a larger theatrical film later – he said he would like to make one at some point – but the founding idea is resonance over scale.
The world of Musafir Cafe is expanding in a way that mirrors that philosophy:
- The show has drawn audience appreciation for its simple, relatable storytelling.
- Two physical replica cafés are planned in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, extending the show’s world into real spaces.
- Massey’s next role is White, in which he plays spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in a story exploring Colombia’s peacebuilding efforts.
Why the debut matters
A production house’s first title is a positioning statement. Homemade Stories has chosen to be read as a promise of consistent storytelling, not opening-weekend muscle. For Hindi cinema watchers, the record already supports the claim: 12th Fail’s eight months taught the lesson before the banner carried the name.
It is a useful frame for what follows – judge the slate by whether the films are good, not by how large they arrive. The first test will be whether Musafir Cafe’s goodwill converts into a loyal audience for the brand’s next title.
Source: Bollywood Hungama
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