‘I AM PROUD OF BAAHUBALI AND BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN’
The filmmaker, whose father Vijayendra Prasad has written both films, refuses to play the game of one-upmanship
There are inevitable comparisons of box office figures between the two blockbusters of the season, Baahubali and
Bajrangi Bhaijaan. And it is widely believed that the historic success of S.S. Rajamouli’s magnum opus has diluted the earnings of Salman Khan’s Id extravaganza.
But Rajamouli, whose father K.V. Vijayendra Prasad has written both the films, refuses to play the game of one-upmanship .
Says a jubilant Rajamouli, “As far as I am concerned, both films are blockbusters and that makes me a very happy person. Since my father is associated with both films, I feel very proud.”
Says trade analyst Amod Mehra, “BB has scored solely on its own merits. The presence of Salman Khan brought in the crowds. But as the film was good, it became a superduper hit.”
Adds another trade analyst Atul Mohan, “The Baahubali factor doesn’t seem to have affected Bajrangi Bhaijaan except in the South, where Baahubali remained the first choice for many. But there too BB has performed very well. The films are different from each other.”
Atul, however, admits that Baahubali was forced off many screens in North India. “In North, though Baahubali did exceptionally well in its first week, which not many had expected, the fact also remains that at many centres, the film was committed for only one week due to Bajrangi Bhaijaan releasing in the sub- sequent week.”
But Atul says a hit is a hit. “What makes us happy at the end of the day is that both films have done phenomenally well, made handsome money and we want all films to perform well.”
Baahubali was forced off many screens in North India due to Bajrangi Bhaijaan releasing the next week