Saregama India, under the leadership of RP Sanjiv Goenka is reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring a controlling interest in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. This move comes as the film industry grapples with significant challenges including fluctuating box office revenues and soaring actor salaries that have made it increasingly difficult for production houses like Dharma to thrive on their own. Reports indicate that Dharma has been actively seeking external investment to bolster its operations. Although negotiations are ongoing, it remains uncertain if an agreement will be finalized. Recently, Dharma Productions has released several titles including ‘Kill’, ‘Bad Newz’, ‘Yodha’ and ‘Mr & Mrs Mahi’, with the much-anticipated ‘Jigra’ featuring Alia Bhatt set to premiere this week. Johar has voiced concerns over the “unprecedented” salary demands from top stars, noting that certain actors requested Rs 40 crore for ‘Kill’, a figure that astonished him given it matched the film’s total budget. In the previous financial year, Dharma Productions recorded revenues of Rs 1,044.16 crore and a profit of Rs 10.69 crore, while Saregama reported revenues of Rs 790.3 crore and a net profit of Rs 185.1 crore as per reports.
