Karan Johar recently stirred the pot, where he candidly addressed several contentious issues in the Bollywood industry. The discussion revolved around the authenticity of box office numbers, the merit-based casting of actors, and the honesty of celebrity film reviews.
In an interview with The Indian Express, KJo’s remarks confirmed a widely held belief: that box office figures are often inflated, casting decisions are not solely based on talent, and many celebrities may not be truthful in their public endorsements of films.
Talking about the integrity of box office collections, Karan Johar did not hold back. “Yes, numbers are fudged, true,” he admitted. This statement aligns with ongoing skepticism within the industry regarding the accuracy of reported earnings. Johar elaborated on the casting process, stating bluntly, “No,” when asked if actors are chosen based on their talent. He acknowledged that popularity and box office success often overshadow actual skill: “Box office, popularity, always equal talent.” He expressed gratitude for his own opportunities in filmmaking but recognized that many more talented individuals remain unrecognized.
The conversation took a sharper turn when the topic shifted to the sincerity of celebrities’ reviews on social media. Karan Johar emphatically stated, “No, we are all liars. We are all big, fat liars.”
Recently, Adar Poonawalla, recently acquired a 50% stake in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions for Rs 1,000 crores.
Karan Johar’s recent film Jigra, starring Alia Bhatt, has been surrounded by controversy following allegations from Divya Khossla Kumar regarding rigged box office numbers. Divya accused the film’s team of inflating earnings by purchasing tickets to create a false impression of success. The film has also struggled to meet box-office expectations.
Due to this director Vasan Bala recently held himself responsible for the film’s failure. In an interview with Fever FM, Bala explained that as a filmmaker, it is his duty to deliver at the box office and reflect on why the audience stayed away, suggesting that something in the film didn’t resonate with them enough to draw them to the theater. Bala added that if any actor dedicates their time to a project, it is essential to make it worthwhile.
