Sky Force’s Box Office Collection Under Scrutiny Amid Allegations of Block Booking

Sky Force has emerged as Akshay Kumar’s first profitable film after 3 years, but this accomplishment now faces doubts about its reported box office performance. The debut film of Veer Pahariya with its estimated box office figures exceeding Rs 80 crore in its opening week went on to surpass Rs 100 crore by official figures. The actual ticket sales figures might differ from reported numbers according to information from trade insiders.

Reportedly, Industry expert Komal Nahta has come forward with claims that a large portion of the reported earnings is the result of “block bookings” or “self-buying” practices, rather than genuine audience turnout. Nahta believes that the actual first-week collection was around Rs 40.50 crore, with the inflated Rs 80 crore figure stemming from unsold tickets being bought in bulk to artificially create the appearance of high demand. “Cinemas appeared full on platforms like BookMyShow, but many theaters were nearly empty,” he added, pointing out that this could be one of the largest cases of block booking in Bollywood history.

What is Block Booking?

The practice of block booking, also known as “corporate booking” or “self-buying,” involves purchasing large quantities of tickets to boost box office numbers. In many instances, the tickets are distributed to schools, colleges, or corporate groups, but often, many of the seats remain unoccupied. The goal is to manipulate the perception of the film’s success, even though actual audience engagement may be much lower.

This controversy has stirred up concerns about transparency in Bollywood’s box office reporting. Industry experts are voicing frustration, noting that while such tactics have been used in the past, they undermine the credibility of box office numbers.

The situation has taken a new turn with similar accusations now being leveled against Chhaava, an upcoming film starring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, produced by the same team behind Sky Force. Some insiders worry that these tactics may be becoming a widespread issue in the industry, further compromising the authenticity of box office figures.

Raising Concerns over Industry Transparency

According to trade analyst Atul Mohan, An actor endorsing multiple brands may ask one brand to buy 10,000 tickets for their film. The brand receives promotional advantages as well as free advertising in return for the exchange. Although these tickets are sold the theatres remain empty. He emphasised how such methods produce misleading success because the theatre attendance figures have been artificially increased.

Despite these allegations, Sky Force continues to run in theaters, but the doubts surrounding its true box office performance remain. This ongoing controversy calls for greater transparency and more accountability in the way box office numbers are reported in Bollywood.