Film producer Ronnie Screwvala has criticised film trade analysts for sharing inaccurate box office figures.
Screwvala took to Twitter and asked two film trade analysts Komal Nahta and Taran Adarsh to give authentic box office numbers of films rather than inflated ones.
“Isn’t it time everyone reports Box Office numbers accurately! @KomalNahta @taran_adarsh … accuracy of information builds credibility which the movie industry needs so badly… and not sure how long-to appease egos will Studios and all keep encouraging pumped up data on numbers,” Screwvala wrote.
Many felt that his tweet was aimed at the box office figures of Housefull 4, which made over Rs 100 crore in just five days of its release.
However, the producer clarified that the tweet was not directed to any movie.
“Just to clarify that my tweet was not directed at any one movie (as is being wrongly assumed) but just an overall comment for the future + my reasons to tag some of the industry authorities was because they can make a difference to the credibility – happy Diwali,” he said.
Just to clarify that my tweet was not directed at any one movie ( as is being wrongly assumed ) but just an overall comment for the future + my reasons to tag some of the industry authorities was because they can make a difference to the credibility – happy Diwali
— Ronnie Screwvala (@RonnieScrewvala) October 29, 2019
In response to Ronnie’s tweet, analyst Komal Nahta wrote that, “That’s asking for too much in India in general.Nothing will be achieved till producers decide to be honest. Finally, the source of is information producers/distributors/exhibitors. If they don’t stop providing inflated figures, getting real figures will be an uphill task for anyone.”
That’s asking for too much in India in general.Nothing will be achieved till producers decide to be honest.Finally,the source of information is producers/distributors/exhibitors. If they don’t stop providing inflated figures, getting real figures will be an uphill task for anyone
— Komal Nahta (@KomalNahta) October 29, 2019
Akshaye Rathi, a film distributor, agreed with Ronnie’s statements and said that the box office figures should not be shared in the public domain at all.
“IMHO (In my honest opinion) sir, collections don’t even need to be in the public domain. Only the stakeholders (the studios, talent, producers, distributors, exhibitors & tax collecting authorities / govt) need to know them. Putting them out does more harm than good to the sector,” he tweeted. “And if you look at some of the replies to my last tweet, you’d also realise that the social media would be a nicer & saner place if box office numbers aren’t discussed here,” he wrote on Twitter.
Ronnie Screwvala produced Rajkummar Rao and Mouni Roy starrer Made In China which released last week with Housefull 4.
IMHO sir, collections don’t even need to be in the public domain. Only the stakeholders (the studios, talent, producers, distributors, exhibitors & tax collecting authorities / govt) need to know them. Putting them out does more harm than good to the sector.
— Akshaye Rathi (@akshayerathi) October 29, 2019