CLASH OF THE TITANS? NOT INTERESTED

... says Bollywood, as filmmakers re-work their film’s release dates to avoid box office clashes

As the 2017 film calendar takes shape, Bollywood biggies are working out dates to avoid eating into each other’s business pie.

Filmmaker Rohit Shetty has advanced the release of Golmaal Again to avoid clashing with actors Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar-starrer 2.0. Both the films were slated to release on Diwali, next year. Raju Mahalingam, the producer of 2.0, took to Twitter to thank Shetty for his gesture.

Trade analyst Komal Nahata says, “Clashes are detrimental to the interest of the films releasing together. Collections get affected. Two films releasing on a national holiday or festive weekend is acceptable. But, with multiplexes having 25-30 shows per film, no two films releasing together can get more than 10-12 shows. That leads to loss and tension between the parties.”

Reportedly, director Neeraj Pandey’s Crack, starring Akshay, has been pushed to Aug 2018 from 2017, to avert a BO clash with Imtiaz Ali’s tentatively titled The Ring, starring SRK and Anushka Sharma.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, says, “With so many films releasing on the same day, business becomes the main concern. So, we see many release dates changing.”

Actors Sushant Singhstarrer Raabta, which was earlier releasing with Akshay’s Jolly LLB 2 on February 10, has been now pushed to June 9, reportedly.

However, not everyone is shifting the release. Hrithik Roshan’s Kaabil and SRK’s Raees, were to release on January 26. Now, Roshan’s will be in theatres from 6 pm onwards, Jan 25. “In the evening everyone is free, and the next day is a national holiday. So, it’ll boost the opening day collections. Makers can’t keep changing the dates,” says Adarsh.

But filmmaker Rakesh Roshan has also said it will be “unethical” on his part to release Krrish 4 on the same day as SRK’s 2018 Christmas release, to be directed by Aanand L Rai. So, Roshan is willing to change the date.

PHOTO: RAJ K RAJ/HT PHOTO: AALOK SONI/HT PHOTO: DABBOO RATNANI From top: Actors Anushka Sharma, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Rohit Shetty