Latest news with #KomalNahta
NDTV
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Bollywood To South, Do Block Bookings Mean Box Office Success For A Film? Experts Break Down The Ugly Truth
New Delhi: Acting calibre, backing from big banners, public relations skills -- these three qualities are essential to building a career in the film business, irrespective of language or region. But are they enough to maintain the image of a successful actor in the public eye in the post-pandemic era? It doesn't seem so. In 2025, as major Hindi films continue to flop at the box office and South Indian films dominate the box office and headlines, superstars across the country are allegedly using technology to create a *false* perception of success through block or bulk bookings. What Are Block Bookings? Trade analyst Komal Nahta acted as a whistleblower when he criticised the box office figures of Akshay Kumar's Sky Force in a public post earlier this year. Nahta alleged that the film had shown inflated opening week collections of Rs 40 crore (more on that later). Generally speaking, block or bulk bookings refer to when a corporate house books a large number of cinema tickets (often distributed among employees) to create the illusion that a film is running houseful shows -- while, in reality, the attendance is sparse. Contrary to popular belief, trade analyst Amod Mehra tells NDTV, "I would say stars are doing block bookings directly or indirectly. And they're the ones benefiting most from it." "The media has coined the term 'block bookings' to suggest there's manipulation in box office collections, and that it's the corporates behind it. But nobody really knows how it's actually done," Mehra adds. Komal Nahta tells NDTV, "Three or four major stars and production houses in Bollywood are doing it. They are bringing disrepute to the industry." Amod Mehra explains the process, "We presume block bookings are mainly done through [online ticketing platform] BookMyShow. Stars or corporates book large numbers of tickets and then cancel them. So, when you go to book tickets, the app shows a full theatre. But when you walk into the cinema, it's empty. The financial loss to the stars or corporate backers is negligible compared to the film's overall budget." Why Are Stars So Desperate To Create A False Image of Success? Komal Nahta tells NDTV, "When a star projects that his film is earning big numbers, he can significantly increase his endorsement fees. So, they're essentially deceiving advertisers, the public, and the industry to make more money." Amod Mehra adds, "A star is more interested in retaining his public image. He doesn't care whether his films are actually running houseful shows. They charge crores in remuneration. Even if the films flop, they still earn through endorsements. Inflated numbers help them negotiate higher endorsement deals." Just as the number of social media followers plays a crucial role in helping outsiders land a big-banner film, inflated box office numbers seem to help big stars create a perception, albeit a false one, of success in a highly competitive market. Komal Nahta's Allegations Against Sky Force In a detailed public post, Komal Nahta broke down the numbers of Akshay Kumar-starrer Sky Force, and alleged that the team had used block bookings to inflate its opening collection numbers. Nahta went as far as to claim that this was the biggest such case in Hindi cinema history. Sky Force hit the screens on January 24 this year. An excerpt from Nahta's post read: "The records will show total collections of Rs 80 crore, but that's because heavy block booking of unsold tickets was done each day in the first week to give the impression that the film was performing extraordinarily well at the box office. This may be the largest block booking ever done in Bollywood history." "Proof of this lies in the fact that houseful or near-houseful status on coincided with near-empty cinema halls -- because there was no public to fill the block-booked seats." Nahta added that while block bookings were initially done across multiple chains and cinemas nationwide, they were later restricted primarily to PVR Inox, since PVR Inox Pictures was the film's all-India distributor. Komal Nahta about skyforce block bookings. Surprising how most have been silent about this. by u/ailaa_gogo in BollyBlindsNGossip Speaking to NDTV, Nahta adds, "I know of an actor who told a producer that he would only work with him if he had a Rs 30-40 crore budget set aside just for block bookings -- like Dinesh Vijan does." Dinesh Vijan is a film producer and the founder of Maddock Films, whose Stree 2 was among the highest-grossing Hindi films of last year. Block Bookings In The Regional Market It's an open secret that producers and stars across regional industries often spend extra to boost box office numbers. After all, sometimes numbers speak louder than talent. Even in the Bengali film industry, where budgets are relatively modest and films are shot within 20 days, many leading producers have allegedly resorted to block bookings. One of the top stars in the industry is said to have been doing this for years. "From Rs 10-15 lakh to Rs 1 crore worth of block bookings have taken place in the Bengali film industry over the past few years. Even when the films don't work, hall owners are satisfied," Satadeep Saha, CEO of SSR Cinemas, tells NDTV. Block Bookings And The Future Of The Film Business The obsession with box office numbers arguably became mainstream after SS Rajamouli's Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) grossed over Rs 1,000 crore. That film also triggered the rise of the South in the Hindi belt. But the film industry has changed dramatically since the pandemic, especially with the rise of OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan (2023), backed by Yash Raj Films, was the first major Hindi film to cross Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 1,050.50 crore) at the box office, followed by Jawan (Rs 1,148.32 crore) the same year. Trade analyst Amod Mehra doesn't mince words, "You can quote me -- this block booking trend started with Pathaan, Jawan, Brahmastra: Part One - Shiva." As the saying goes, the truth is often stranger than fiction -- and in the case of inflated film numbers, perhaps more complicated than the truth itself. But when it comes to big films, numbers are a good; albeit flawed; measure of success.
India.com
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Rohit Shetty Calls Golmaal Biggest Gamble Of His Career On Komal Nahta's Podcast
Mumbai: Filmmaker Rohit Shetty, opened up on his bollywood journey in a recent episode of Komal Nahta's Game Changers podcast. The director known for delivering some of Bollywood's biggest commercial hits, shared pivotal moments in his career during th episode . In a candid conversation, Shetty revealed that making Golmaal was the biggest risk he's ever taken — and one that ultimately redefined his career. In the 58-minute episode, Komal Nahta asked the director what he considered the game-changing film in his journey. Without hesitation, Shetty said, "Golmaal is the biggest risk I've taken, and that worked for me." Released in 2006, Golmaal marked a genre shift for Shetty, who was previously known for directing action films. Casting Ajay Devgn — an action star — in a full-blown comedy was an unconventional move at the time. But the gamble paid off, spawning a successful franchise with four installments and a fifth currently in development. 'Back then, I had mostly been working on action films. Shifting to comedy, that too with Ajay Devgn, was a massive leap of faith. But sometimes the biggest risks bring the biggest rewards,' Shetty shared. The director also reflected on another bold move — releasing Sooryavanshi in theatres during the post-pandemic uncertainty in 2021, a time when the OTT boom had taken over. Despite the challenges, the film's theatrical release turned out to be a major success. Throughout the conversation, Shetty delved into topics ranging from the evolution of Bollywood to the importance of nurturing relationships with actors and crews, as well as the ongoing debate between OTT and traditional theatrical releases. A true testament to his longevity and impact in the industry, Shetty's episode on *Game Changers* offers fans a rare look behind the blockbuster façade — showcasing the calculated risks and deep passion that have shaped his journey. Game Changers by Komal Nahta continues to shine a light on some of the most influential voices in Indian cinema. The full episode featuring Rohit Shetty is now streaming on YouTube.
