New Delhi: Giving money to get positive reviews for films has become a big problem in Bollywood. Actress Yami Gautam Dhar has openly spoken against this “monster trend” just before the release of her husband’s movie, Dhurandhar.
She shared how producers pay media professionals to write good things about their films or else face bad reviews. Yami worries this practice will harm the whole industry and hopes Bollywood can come together like the South film industries.
Yami Gautam Dhar speaks out against paid positive reviews in Bollywood
Yami Gautam Dhar, a well-known actress who was last seen in the movie Haq, spoke up about a worrying new trend in Bollywood. She called it a “monster trend” where producers give money to media and promoters to write positive reviews and create hype for their films. This trend happens under the name of marketing, but Yami says it feels like extortion.
In a heartfelt post on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Yami explained, “This so called trend of giving money, in the disguise of marketing a film, to ensure good ‘hype’ for a film is created or else ‘they’ will continuously write negative things (even before the film is released), until you pay ‘them’ money feels nothing but kind of extortion”.
There is something iv been wanting to express since really long, I feel today is that day & I must .
This so called trend of giving money, in the disguise of marketing a film, to ensure good ‘hype’ for a film is created or else ‘they’ will continuously write negative things…— Yami Gautam Dhar (@yamigautam) December 4, 2025
She also highlighted the unfairness of this practice. According to Yami, if someone refuses to pay, their film gets negative opinions even before the audience sees it. She warned people, thinking it was harmless to accept this trend. “Unfortunately, if anyone feels- it’s harmless & let’s do it because it’s the new ‘normal’, is mistaken. This monster of a ‘trend’ is eventually going to bite everyone,” she added.
Yami’s message came ahead of the release of Dhurandhar, directed by her husband Aditya Dhar, which is one of the most-awaited Bollywood films this year. Her call is not just about her own movie but about the whole film industry in Bollywood. She urged the industry to unite and be more like the southern film industries, which she feels have a better approach to films and publicity.
By raising her voice, Yami Gautam Dhar hopes to stop this paid promotion trend that threatens to damage the trust and respectworthiness of Bollywood movies. She wants the industry to focus on real talent and the quality of films, rather than deals and money exchanges for good press.
This brave stand from a leading actress has gained a lot of attention on social media, with many agreeing that the film industry needs to clean up its ethics. Yami’s clear and strong words shine a light on a serious issue that affects not just the filmmakers but also the movie lovers who trust media reviews for deciding what to watch.
This important discussion started with her opening up shows the growing demand for honesty and fairness in Bollywood’s business of movie marketing and promotions. The industry now faces the challenge to come together and fight this “monster trend” before it causes more harm.