'Laalo' director Ankit Sakhiya on how the film saved lives; says, 'I think it connected with everyone'

'Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate' started as a very small film. Director Ankit Sakhiya said in a recent interview on how the movie connected with the audiences and also on how it saved several lives.Talking to the Free Press Journal, he said, “This project started with the thought of making a film and how we could do so on a low budget.

So, what do we need? One location, one actor, and whatever else we could find around us—things that wouldn’t cost me any money.

So, I started with this thought and began writing the script.” He wanted something he could make without pressure, without spending too much, and without anything heavy. But the small idea slowly turned into something no one expected. The film has now crossed ₹100 crore, which no Gujarati film has done before.

The film was not a hit in the beginning

Ankit said the movie did not become famous right away. He shared, “The film wasn’t a hit from the start. Initially, no one was watching it, but as word of mouth spread, people watched it, and they told other people, and that’s how it started and became a blockbuster.” People slowly started telling their friends and family that the film made them feel peaceful and emotional. More people went to watch it, and soon it became a big success.

The film did not depend on big stars or big money. It grew only because people felt something inside when they watched it.

People felt healed by the story

Ankit said the heart of the movie connected deeply with everyone. He said, “I think it connected with everyone. The other main factor is the divine energy, which perhaps connected with people, and that’s why the film took off.” Many people who watched the film cried and shared their pain. Some even said the film stopped them from taking their own lives.

Ankit said, “People watching the film were crying and sharing their sorrows.

Some people said that they were going to commit suicide, but they watched the film and were saved.”

A moment the director will never forget

Among all the feedback he received, one moment stayed in Ankit’s heart. He said, “I still remember when I went on a theatre visit in the initial days and a man came up to me. He said, ‘Keep these 5,000 rupees, I like you so much.’ He took out 5,000 rupees and gave them to me, saying, ‘My name is Vishnu.’

That’s something I can never forget. That’s a very big thing for me.” Ankit spoke about this memory like it was a warm hug that stayed with him, something he will always carry with him.

The story that touched everyone

The film follows a rickshaw driver who gets trapped inside a farmhouse. While stuck there, he faces old pain from his past. He sees visions of Lord Krishna who guides him through healing and understanding. What started as a very small movie became a cultural moment because people saw themselves in the story. It became big not because of money or force. It was because many hearts connected to it.