Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force, which premiered over the Republic Day weekend, is already buzzing as 2025’s premiere hit cinema experience and Veer Pahariya’s grand debut. According to trade portal Sacnilk, the movie collected ₹86.5 cr in the first week and crossed ₹100 cr mark in ten days at the domestic Box office. However, not everyone agrees with these numbers.
Komal Nahta’s Shocking Allegations
If any film fails, it is Sky Force box office collections, the claims of acclaimed film critic and trade analyst [Komal Nahta] are anything but real. In a viral posting, he insinuated that the movie, although garnering at least kind of critical acclaim, did not do well enough in opening week.
Nahta pointed out that Sky Force had a slow start on Friday but picked up on Saturday and Sunday, benefiting from Republic Day fervor and the film’s patriotic theme. However, collections saw a significant drop from Monday onwards.
Actual Box Office Numbers?
According to Nahta, the film’s real earnings were:
- Friday: ₹5.50 crore
- Saturday: ₹10.50 crore
- Sunday: ₹14 crore
- Total First Weekend: ₹30 crore
- Weekdays Collection: ₹10.50 crore
- Total First Week Collection: ₹40.50 crore
This is in contrast to the ₹80+ crore amount* claimed by some trade portals. Nahta claims that block bookings artificially inflated the numbers.
Block Booking Controversy
Nahta alleges that the makers of Sky Force engaged in massive block bookings, making it appear as though the film was doing exceptionally well at the box office. He even called it “the maximum block bookings ever done in Bollywood’s history. ”
Block booking is a strategy in which remaining unsold tickets are bought at once in order to increase box office revenues. This has a false implication of high demand and commercial success.
Nahta asserts that block bookings were once the rule in India, both for the caterers’ multiplexes and national chain cinemas. Later, they were restricted mainly to PVR Inox cinemas since PVR Inox Pictures was the film’s all-India distributor.
Sky Force’s Ticket Discounts Raise Eyebrows
On the back of Nahta’s assertions, promotional strategies employed by Sky Force included dubious 50% discounts on movie tickets, which is atypical for a blockbuster. Some of the offers included:
- ₹400 off per transaction (Code: FLYHIGH400) on PVR and INOX apps
- ₹250 off per transaction (Code: FLYHIGH250)
- ₹250 off on BookMyShow (Code: SKYFORCE250)
These promotional deals suggest that the makers were trying to boost footfalls artificially, raising concerns about the film’s actual performance.
The Bigger Picture: Are Box Office Numbers Manipulated?
The Sky Force controversy reignites the debate on box office transparency in Bollywood. In an time off box office triumph, how a film is perceived by the public is determined by box office performance, producers may employ strategies such as block bookings, executive maneuvers, and reduced ticket prices to generate an artificial sense of triumph.
Although surviving the stardom of Akshay Kumar is as undoubtable as it can be, it is these allegations that lead to questioning the film’s commercial viability, if any. Still, it’s still open whether Sky Force is a real blockbuster or just another glorified success story.
“Stay updated with the latest news and insights – follow us at YPBB News on X for real-time updates and exclusive stories!”
