In recent years, “corporate bookings” — a practice where producers allegedly manipulate box-office numbers by bulk-booking their own films — has become a troubling trend in the film industry. Addressing this issue in a conversation with Game Changers, filmmaker Karan Johar, who recently sold a 50% stake in Dharma Productions to Adar Poonawalla, spoke candidly about the practice and those engaging in it. "Everybody does what they have to. If I decide to give myself ₹1 crore, and then I celebrate, have a party at night that I have earned ₹1 crore. Am I a fool, or am I an intelligent man? I leave that for you to decide. That is the only answer I have on this. If you are doing this for yourself and you are happy, please do it. You are spending on yourself, so why should anyone judge you for spending your own money? You are happy and putting it out on social media," he said. However, Karan expressed concern that such tactics ultimately harm the industry’s credibility. "The industry is defaming itself. All these corporate booking numbers are peddled by the industry people. What does the audience care about, corporate or desperate? The audience only looks at whether the film is good or bad. I don't know where this term has even come from. It is called self-booking. You are booking to please yourself. There are agencies now filling the seats if you pay them. That has also started. Sometimes it helps films in giving that kickstart energy. Maybe in future what we are now calling corporate booking became a promotional tactic, anything can happen. But if the film has to work it will work. That is the bottom line, if it’s good, it will anyway work." He further questioned the sustainability of such methods: "How much will you do, after all? I can't do it for every day. Can do it say for weekend, then for the first Monday, Tuesday is already discounted prices, then second Friday? But at some point I’ll run out. I have to stop. If the film doesn’t have legs, it’s going to fail anyway." In the same conversation, Karan also spoke about the growing issue of inflated costs due to large star entourages, emphasizing how such practices affect filmmaking economics. “I can’t tell you the cost they charge for hair and makeup. I would like Roohi and Yash to become hair and makeup artists because they are making more money than a lot of other people. If they take that up, it’ll be very beneficial for them,” he said. While acknowledging that entourage expenses form a relatively small portion of the overall budget, Johar said the issue is more ethical than financial. “I have an ethical problem with entourages, not a financial one. We set a fixed budget for such needs. But if an actor wants anything beyond that, be it a personal trainer or specific dietary requirements, they should cover the cost themselves. I will pay for it only when it's essential for the film, like in a sports drama requiring a certain physique. But if you are a regular hero, then your job is to look good, and look fit, you are an artist. If you want to eat healthy food, please go ahead, but why should I pay for that?” Also Read | In Dhadak 2’s opening, Shazia Iqbal rewrites the politics of love at first sight as she interrogates the mythology of Shah Rukh Khan When asked if producers were taking steps to address this, Karan admitted that lack of unity remains a challenge. “The producers are not united. We often discuss these matters, but no one follows through. However, we are now trying to bring change by capping the budget for hair and makeup. We tell them upfront this is all we can offer. If you want anything extra, please handle it yourself. And now, many actors are doing just that, paying for their additional hair and makeup, which I respect.” He concluded by urging actors to show restraint and gratitude. “My problem is with actors who are getting mammoth payments and still expect the producers to pay for their basic needs. Show some grace. It’s strange to me when these small issues become points of contention. I don’t understand why some actors travel with six to eight people in their entourage.” Karan Johar has recently backed two major films. One of them, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, has struggled at the box office. In contrast, Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and produced by Karan, has received widespread critical acclaim and has been selected as India’s official entry to the Oscars this year.
