The Gujarati film Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate, which has emerged as one of India’s most profitable regional films, has now released in Hindi. With its trailer drawing comparisons to OMG – Oh My God! and Trapped, director Ankit Sakhiya has addressed the conversation head-on.
The comparisons stem not from surface similarities, but from the film’s philosophical core. Like Trapped, Laalo unfolds largely within a confined space, and much like OMG, it explores spirituality — portraying God as a presence rather than a concept.
Speaking exclusively to India Today, Sakhiya said he views the comparisons as a compliment rather than criticism.
“This is the best compliment because those are legendary works. But the problem is when people talk without watching your film. If they say this after watching it, that’s an alarm for us. But that’s not happening — and that’s a blessing,” he said.
Sakhiya revealed that the team was mindful of avoiding imitation while working within a minimalist genre.
“When we were making the film, we saw Trapped and OMG. Everyone said we don’t want to do what they did. Those films are great works. We can take inspiration, but not pick anything directly,” he explained.
What truly sets Laalo apart, the director said, is its origin. The film was made with almost no budget by a group of college friends driven purely by passion.
“We literally had no budget. Our production house was even called ‘No Budget Films’. If you give me a table or a chair, I will make a film from that,” Sakhiya said.
The story evolved organically from what the team already had — a house and an idea of confinement — with the spiritual layer emerging naturally during discussions.
“Someone brought the Bhagavad Gita, and then we thought, what if Bhagwan himself enters the story? That’s how it developed. It just kept happening,” he added.
Despite the film’s remarkable commercial success, Sakhiya insists money was never the motivation.
“Filmmaking is not a money-making business. If you want money, do something else. Films are a risk. Whatever success we have is Krishna’s blessings,” he said with a laugh.
Laalo – Krishna Sada Sahaayate stars Karan Joshi, Shruhad Goswami and Reeva Rachh in lead roles.
The Hindi version released in cinemas nationwide on January 9.
