Actor Kartik Aaryan, once touted as the next big thing in Hindi cinema, just pulled off what might be the biggest PR disaster of the year at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. The actor, who was invited for a session at IFFI in celebration of his hit film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, found himself at the center of a scandalous debacle that will likely be discussed for years to come in Bollywood circles. If this is what the future of his PR game looks like, the actor might want to rethink his management strategies before they undo his star power.
Here's what went down: IFFI Goa, a prestigious festival organized by the Entertainment Society of Goa, was all set to host a special session with Kartik Aaryan on November 26th. The festival had previously reached out to him directly, but what followed next wasn’t your standard star treatment—it was a lesson in entitlement. Kartik’s management team, Collective Artists Network, didn’t just ask for a few basic privileges—they came with a full-fledged demands list, which included 10 tickets, two suites, and additional rooms at a five-star hotel.
Yes, you read that right—ten extra tickets for Kartik’s entourage, including his advisor, agents, and staff. If you're wondering why that raised eyebrows, it's because the festival's organizing body, FICCI, immediately shut it down. FICCI refused to accommodate the demand and simply stopped communicating with Kartik’s team. Naturally, the whole thing escalated when Kartik’s team attempted to backtrack and offer only two tickets. But by then, it was too late. The festival’s organizers had already removed his name from the list of invitees, effectively blacklisting him from the event.
The organizers of IFFI were not in the mood to play games. They weren’t going to let a celebrity’s inflated sense of entitlement derail their event. If you’ve been paying attention, this isn’t the first time Kartik Aaryan has been in hot water over his team’s behavior. Ranveer Singh, the poster boy for eccentric demands, had faced similar fallout in the past when his outrageous demands got him booted from the film Brahmarakshas. Looks like Kartik’s team took a page out of Ranveer’s book, except they forgot that bold demands don’t always translate to bigger offers. If anything, it paints you as disrespectful and difficult to work with.
As if things weren’t messy enough, Kartik's spokesperson came forward with a half-baked explanation, claiming the fiasco was the result of a “confusion” between FICCI and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). They also went on to clarify that Kartik’s hotel bookings had been made a month before the event—completely unrelated to IFFI. The kicker? Kartik was in Goa at the same time celebrating his birthday, but it seems he didn’t want to miss an opportunity to push his “star power” further.
The truth is, Kartik Aaryan’s PR team miscalculated the whole situation. It wasn’t just about managing his schedule or securing his presence at a prestigious event—it was about handling the image of the actor. And this disaster? It’s the opposite of image-building.
If you’re wondering why this matters, consider this: Kartik Aaryan's journey in Bollywood has been nothing short of meteoric, from his hit films to social media fame. But this incident? It’s a reminder that in an industry where relationships and reputation matter, attitude is everything. A team that demands special treatment in exchange for visibility at an event is not just selfish—it’s also short-sighted.
The worst part? This drama could have easily been avoided with a little humility and professionalism. Kartik’s managerial missteps are bound to leave a bad taste in the mouths of the festival’s organizers, fans, and industry insiders. His ego trip at IFFI could very well backfire, especially if it affects his growing fanbase in both India and abroad. After all, bollywood fans and media aren't easily fooled by diva behavior—especially when it’s at the expense of professionalism.
In conclusion, Kartik Aaryan’s overblown demands and his team’s inability to handle a simple invitation are the latest in a series of public PR blunders. If he doesn’t rein in his ego and reevaluate his team’s approach to handling public relations, this could be the turning point in his once-promising career. The Hindi film industry doesn’t take kindly to stars who think they’re above the system—and if Kartik doesn’t watch out, his next hit film might not be enough to save him from the fallout of this PR disaster.