2023 saw the massive return of Shah Rukh Khan to super stardom with Pathaan and Jawan. His third movie Dunki was also a super hit. Both Jawan and Pathaan reportedly crossed the 1000 crore mark at the box office. However, there was a huge uproar on social media wherein many people alleged that SRK’s success had more do to with his aggressive PR activity and corporate booking than actual response from the audience.
Although after the release of Pathaan and Jawan the 1000 crore mark is now taken as the new milestone to determine the success of a movie, many trade analysts and leading critics from the film industry believe that corporate booking played a big role in exaggerating this number. Even SRK’s close friend Kajol said jokingly during one of her interviews that King Khan should reveal the real figures of his movies.
Komal Nahta makes shocking claims
Famous film trade analyst Komal Nahta during a recent interview seems to be hinting at the same without actually taking the name of Pathaan or Jawan. However, he does appreciate Animal’s success saying that the movie’s success is organic and it is quite evident that this Sandeep Reddy Vanga movie became a hit on its own without any support of corporate booking or negative PR tactics.
He said, “Ranbir Kapoor ki Animal - I have not heard even 1 rupee of corporate booking. It has run on its own merit. Kuch aur badi filme hain jo merit se blockbusters hai lekin unhe aur bhi bada blockbuster sabit karne ki koshish mein uss film ke hero or uss film ke producers tickets corporate booking ke naam pe phad kar batate hai aur iss liye public bolti hai na ke BookMyShow pe houseful hai par andar dekha to sirf dus log baithe the.”
Komal chachu exposes the corporate bookings
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Nahta added, “Because aap free mein ticket de toh sakte hai lekin you cannot get the audience to the cinema. Woh audience aye ya na aye, isliye mein hamesha kehta hoon paise ki baat nahi hai, audience ke time ki baat hai. App free ticket de de par agar audience ko woh film nahi dekhani because his time is important he will not go.”
It emphasises the fact that only good content can make the audience go to the theaters irrespective of whether they buy the ticket or get it free. That is why Komal Nahta said, “Record pe woh 10 crore aa gaye hai par in reality 10 crore janata ne woh film dekhi hi nahi hai. To me, it is absolutely disgusting trend hai and sooner or later it will come to an end.”