What does it actually take to turn a feature film into a ₹1,000 crore cultural phenomenon? In this episode of the Everyday Empires Podcast, host Rohit Maini sits down with Varun Gupta, founder of MAX Marketing—the premier strategy agency behind historic campaigns for RRR, Animal, Kalki 2898 AD, Chandu Champion, and Dhurandhar. For four consecutive years, MAX Marketing has handled campaigns for ₹1,000+ crore grossing films each year. Varun pulls back the curtain on the business, psychology, and high-pressure realities of marketing Indian cinema: – The Reality of Film Marketing: Why no marketing strategy can save a film if the core product fails to resonate with audiences (“We are not magicians”). – Pre-Release Panic & Trolling: What happens behind closed doors when trade analysts report sluggish advance bookings and producers make panic calls. – OTT vs. The Theatrical Experience: Why blaming streaming platforms is an excuse, and how crafting an irreplaceable big-screen experience brings audiences back to cinema halls. – The Art of Positioning: From interactive campaigns like Monsoon Shootout catching the eye of global stars like Priyanka Chopra, to coming on board projects like Dhurandhar before the star cast was even finalized. – Building a Specialist Agency: Deciding never to become an actor or director, and instead dominating the niche intersection of cinema, brand alliances, and high-impact marketing. 🎙️ Everyday Empires Podcast with Rohit Maini Real people. Real stories. Real success. Unfiltered conversations with founders, creators, and leaders building impactful brands. 👉 Listen to the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. #moviemarketing #dhurandhar #dhurandhar2 #kalkimovie #rrrmovie #animalmovie #bollywoodmovie #movierelease #marketingpodcasts #businesspodcast #marketinggenius