With Chhava set to hit the big-screens on February 14, popular film trade analyst, Komal Nahta expressed his concerns of block-booking in YouTube video. Carrying an influential voice in the industry his content varies from film reviews to critical comments.
A movie with a 9.2 IMDb rating, this movie stars Vicky Kaushal, Rashmika Mandanna and Akshaye Khanna among others. Komal Nahta’s comments in his youtube video alleged the film of unhealthy practice of block bookings and inflating the box-office collections. He openly called out the production and direction team deliberating the practice of block-bookings.
While a large section of Nahta’s audience praised him, X users have also questioned why he hasn’t presented a critical voice on other commercial films like Jawaan.
Himesh Mankad, another popular voice in the sector has actively followed the Chhava numeric and has predicted “Chhaava is looking to score the #1 opening day of all time for a historical in Hindi, with Maharashtra driving the biz for this actioner”
A notable instance involves the film “Sky Force,” starring Akshay Kumar and Veer Pahariya. The film’s producers claimed a first-week collection of Rs 80 crore. However, trade analyst Komal Nahta contended that the actual earnings were around Rs 40.5 crore, with the remainder attributed to block bookings. He noted that this might represent “the maximum block bookings anyone had ever done in the history of Bollywood.”
Director Kunal Kohli criticized this practice, stating that it misleads actors into believing in a success that isn’t genuine. He emphasized that such actions harm the industry and prevent actors from acknowledging failures, which is essential for genuine growth and future success.
This controversy has ignited discussions about the integrity of box office reporting and the lengths to which studios might go to project commercial success. It underscores the need for transparency and honesty in the film industry to maintain trust among audiences and stakeholders.