Director Umesh Shukla’s Ek Chatur Naar, starring Divya Khosla Kumar and Neil Nitin Mukesh, released on 12 September 2025. Since its release, the film has sparked controversy over its actual box-office numbers.
Independent trade analysts and websites like Sacnilk reported the first-day collection at around 55 lakhs. However, lead actress Divya Khosla Kumar claimed the figures were under-reported and called these sources “unfair and corrupt” on social media.
Divya stated that the film’s first-day collections crossed 1 crore, citing official numbers from distributor PVR. She accused trade sites of manipulating data and using “fake” sources to pressure producers for favourable reviews, recalling similar issues during her film Savi.
Critics and social media users quickly highlighted Divya’s past comments on Alia Bhatt’s Jigra, where she accused producers of inflating numbers with empty theatres. Screenshots of her Instagram story resurfaced, pointing out the irony in her accusations.
The discussion turned critical of Divya, with many questioning why the public should trust distributor numbers given the potential for manipulation. Her recent posts urge audiences to rely solely on PVR figures, dismissing other media reports as unreliable.
Bollywood has increasingly relied on inflated bookings, paid reviews, and inorganic hype to market films as blockbusters. Divya’s case highlights how quickly celebrities can face backlash when caught using the same tactics they publicly condemn.
