In a candid interview with The Indian Express, Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar made some startling revelations about the inner workings of the film industry. Addressing issues that have long been speculated, Johar admitted that box office numbers are often inflated, casting is not always talent-based, and celebrities are less than truthful when reviewing films.
When asked about the integrity of box office collections, Johar didn’t shy away from the truth.
“Yes, numbers are fudged, true,” he said, confirming a widespread belief that film earnings are often exaggerated to boost a movie’s perceived success. This admission echoes the skepticism many within the industry have had about the reliability of reported box office earnings.
Johar also touched on the casting process, acknowledging that popularity and commercial success often take precedence over pure talent. When asked if actors are chosen based solely on their skill, he responded bluntly, “No,” and added, “Box office, popularity, always equal talent.” He expressed gratitude for his own position in the industry but pointed out that many truly talented individuals are overlooked in favor of those with a higher market value.
Perhaps most striking was Johar’s admission regarding the honesty of celebrities when it comes to endorsing or reviewing films. “No, we are all liars. We are all big, fat liars,” Johar stated, underscoring how often celebrities praise films publicly, regardless of their true opinions.
This interview comes amid controversy surrounding Johar’s recent film Jigra, starring Alia Bhatt, which has faced accusations of inflated box office numbers. Divya Khossla Kumar alleged that the film’s earnings were rigged, claiming that tickets were purchased to artificially boost sales.
Despite the alleged tactics, the film has struggled to perform as expected at the box office.
Additionally, Jigra’s director, Vasan Bala, took personal responsibility for the film’s failure to connect with audiences. In an interview with Fever FM, Bala acknowledged that as a filmmaker, it is his duty to deliver box office success and reflect on what might have caused the audience to stay away. He emphasized that when actors dedicate time to a project, it’s essential to make the endeavor worthwhile.
Adding to the industry shake-up, it was recently revealed that Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, acquired a 50% stake in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions for Rs 1,000 crores, a move that could bring further changes to the Bollywood landscape.
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