Karan Johar confesses he’s paid people off to say positive things about his ‘average’ films, engineered false perception about flops

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Karan continued, “But sometimes, we also as PR send our own people to praise the film, that also happens.” As the rest of the panel reacted animatedly, with some expressing disbelief and others amusement, Karan explained, “See, sometimes you’re also struggling to make a mark. As a producer, you will make every last-ditch attempt to make your film be heard. So, while I may critique criticism, I’m also riding on their backs when they praise a film… I change with every film. Some films work on their own, so I can take the high ground and stay quiet. Some films are average, so we need to give the impression that they’re doing better than they actually are.”

He said that when a film is doing well at the box office, he can sit back and turn down interviews because he doesn’t need any more publicity. “It’s the middle order film that you have to fight for, that you have to create an aura and energy around… It’s a very interesting exercise,” he said. Karan experienced a major success in 2023, with Rocky And Rani Kii Prem Kahaani grossing over Rs 350 crore worldwide.