Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions stops pre-release screenings. Here’s why

Filmmaker-producer Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions will not host pre-release screenings for their upcoming films. Addressed to the media, the production house, under the signatures of Dharma co-founders KJo and Apoorva Mehta, issued a statement citing the reason behind their decision.
The letter addressed “dear members of the media”, and stated, “For years, rather decades, you have firmly stood by us at Dharma Productions, supporting our films, sharing our dreams, and celebrating our victories. Your faith in us has been a driving force throughout our journey, and we’d like to take this moment to extend our deepest and heartfelt gratitude to you all. Each coverage, review, and feedback has been invaluable to us, and they have undeniably helped us make our films reach audiences far and wide (sic).”
The note further read, “As we continue to evolve, we find ourselves at a juncture where we must adapt and innovate our approach. After much deliberation, we’ve unanimously decided to forgo pre-release screenings for our upcoming films. This decision has been difficult to make, however, we believe it’s a necessary step in ensuring that every viewer, including our friends in the media, witness our stories as they were meant to be experienced. We believe it will help in maintaining the excitement of the cinematic experience for all (sic).”
The production house clarified that though there wouldn’t be pre-release screenings, they would host screenings for the press in the first half of the film’s release day for timely reviews. “Having said that, we understand the importance of timely reviews and the role they play in the success of our films. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that we will be hosting press screenings in the first half of the release day for each of our movies. We warmly welcome all media personnel to join us at these screenings, where you will be the first to witness our latest offerings (sic),” the note said.
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The makers concluded the note with, “We value the relationship built with each one of you over the years and look forward to your continued cooperation. Thank you again for your consistent support! (sic).”
Dharma Productions’ upcoming release includes Alia Bhatt’s Jigra.