Kunal Kohli believes block booking is to satisfy the ego of stars, directors and producers from facing the reality of their film’s performance.
Kunal Kohli pointed out that directors and actors can face failure. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Filmmaker Kunal Kohli recently opened up about his thoughts on the controversial practice of block booking in Bollywood, where producers purchase tickets for their films to create the illusion of higher box office numbers. Kohli labelled the strategy as “rubbish” and criticised it for enabling actors, directors and producers to avoid facing the reality of their film’s actual performance. Speaking candidly on the Aleena Dissects YouTube show, he expressed his frustration with the practice and the unhealthy ego boost it provides.
“What is this rubbish? We make the film, release it and then buy tickets ourselves? The media talks about it, but why are you doing block booking? It’s done to pamper the star, to not show them the reality, to pamper the director, to pamper the producer,” Kohli said, expressing his dissatisfaction with how the industry handles film promotions and box office performance.
He went on to stress that great films do not need to rely on exaggerated numbers. Kohli referred to films like Pushpa and Stree 2, which garnered success without artificial manipulation of box office figures. “When a film works, you don’t need to do anything. Sholay ran for years—whether it made 900 or 1000 crores doesn’t matter. It’s remembered as a great film,” Kohli explained.
For Kohli, the practice of block booking sends a misleading message to actors and filmmakers, making them believe that their success is bigger than it truly is. “Nobody believes those numbers. What you’re doing is harmful because you’re making an actor believe in a false reality. Accept your failure—everyone fails, even the biggest actors and directors. What matters is how you bounce back,” he said, emphasizing the importance of growth through acceptance of failure.
Reflecting on his career, Kohli admitted that he has had both major hits and failures. He recalled the struggle to understand why Teri Meri Kahaani (2012), starring Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, didn’t connect with the audience despite having great music and visuals. “The film had a good concept with multiple stories, but something didn’t work. I can’t blame the audience or the genre,” he shared.
Known for successful films like Hum Tum, Fanaa and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, Kohli’s reflections on failure and success offer valuable lessons for the industry, emphasizing the need for honesty and growth instead of relying on manipulative tactics.
