Iqbal Khan has weighed in on probably the most debated topics in entertainment today. Shrinking attention spans and the rise of quick content. At a time when this narrative continues to dominate, the huge success of Dhurandhar The Revenge, despite its 3-hour 49-minute runtime and over Rs 900 crore box office collection, tells a really different story. In an exclusive conversation with Bollywood Bubble, Iqbal Khan called out the logic behind these assumptions and shared why he believes strong storytelling still wins. Read on to know what he needed to say.
Iqbal Khan REACTS To Audience’s Reduced Attention Span, Emphasises On Content
Calling out the contradiction in how attention spans are perceived today, Iqbal pointed to the success of Dhurandhar The Revenge as clear evidence. He said, “Kyunki Dhurandhar jaisi film, joh teen, sawa teen ghante ki picture hai, woh log dekh rahe hain. Aur phir bolte hain, attention span ka problem hai. Kaun hain yeh log? Yeh math hi galat hai na. Jo log yeh ganit bana rahe hain, mere khayal se unki research kharab hai.”
He further questioned the logic behind the argument, adding, “Mujhe to aise hi lagta hai, agar audience ka attention span problem hota, to phir itne saare log Dhurandhar kaise dekh lete? Agar attention span issue hi hai, to phir yeh kaise ho gaya?”
He emphasised that content, not duration, ultimately drives viewership. In keeping with him, a compelling story will at all times find its audience. “Ek kahani jo audience ko theek-thaak lagegi, woh kyun nahi dekhegi? Mujhe samajh nahi aata kyun nahi dekhegi, woh to zaroor dekhegi,” he said.
Iqbal also addressed how failures within the industry often result in convenient narratives about audience preferences. He identified, “Aur phir joh cheezein nahi chalti, uske baad log bahut saare points nikaal lete hain, isliye nahi chala, usliye nahi chala. Jo log bana rahe hote hain, jab woh fail hote hain, unko bhi to batana hota hai na ki problem kya hui thi.”
Iqbal Khan On Rise Of Short Form Content
At the identical time, he acknowledged the rise of short-form and vertical content, especially from a practical standpoint. He said, “Agar aap usko ek rozi-roti ke nazariye se dekhen, to bahut badhiya cheez hai.” Nonetheless, he remained cautious about over-analysing audience behaviour, adding, “Lekin mujhe iske peeche ka ganit achha nahi lagta, kyunki ab log bolte hain audience aisi ho gayi hai, audience waisi ho gayi hai. Agar aap thode se bhi creative ho, to yeh cheez aapko thoda disturb karti hai.”
Expanding on this thought, Iqbal stressed that excessive calculation can dilute creativity. He said, “Kyuki baar-baar yahi hota hai, audience yeh kar rahi hai, audience woh kar rahi hai. Phir woh ek art form nahi reh jaata. Art form to yeh hota hai ki aap ek achhi cheez banao, dil se banao, jo andar se nikle. Aur jo aap dil se banate ho, wahi magic hota hai. Wahi audience ke saath connect karta hai. Usmein zyada math ki zarurat nahi padti. Lekin aaj kal math bahut zaroori ho gaya hai.”
Iqbal Khan pushed back against the favored belief that audiences today lack attention span. As a substitute, he made it clear that strong storytelling still holds power, no matter format or length. While he recognised the growing influence of short-form content, he stressed that creativity mustn’t be reduced to algorithms and calculations. For him, the true reference to audiences comes from honesty and emotion, something no math can replace.
Watch Full Interview Here:
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Varsha Tiwari is a budding content author obsessed with Bollywood, popular culture, and the stories behind the highlight. She enjoys breaking down trends, celebrity moments, and film narratives into engaging, reader-friendly content. At all times curious and observant, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Communication and Journalism. Outside of writing, she enjoys painting because storytelling doesn’t at all times need words to make an impact.