Ram Gopal Varma Criticizes ‘Game Changer’ Box Office Figures as Fraudulent

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has openly criticized the reported box office earnings of Ram Charan’s latest film, ‘Game Changer.’ He alleges that the figures have been significantly inflated, labeling the claims as fraudulent.

On January 13, 2025, Varma expressed his concerns on social media, suggesting that such exaggerations undermine the genuine achievements of South Indian cinema. He stated, “If @ssrajamouli and @SukumarWritings skyrocketed Telugu cinema in real-time collections into fantastically stratospheric heights… the people behind G C succeeded in proving that the south is much more FANTASTIC in being a FRAUD.”

The controversy centers around discrepancies between the box office numbers reported by the film’s producers and those provided by trade analysts. Producers claim that ‘Game Changer’ earned ₹186 crore on its opening day, January 10, 2025. If accurate, this would position the film among the top openings in Indian cinema. However, trade sources report significantly lower figures, with some estimating collections under ₹100 crore worldwide.

Varma further questioned the film’s reported budget and earnings, drawing comparisons with other major South Indian films. He commented, “If G C costed some 450 cr then RRR… should have costed 4500 cr and if G C film’s first day collections are 186 cr… then PUSHPA 2 collections should have been 1,860 cr.” He emphasized that for information to be credible, it must be believable, implying that the reported figures for ‘Game Changer’ lack authenticity.

While Varma’s statements have sparked debate within the film industry, the producers of ‘Game Changer’ have not yet responded to these allegations. The film, featuring Ram Charan in a leading role, continues its theatrical run amid this controversy.