The highly anticipated clash at the box office this Diwali, featuring Ajay Devgn’s Singham Again and Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, has taken a contentious turn. With under ten days until release on November 1, T-Series, the production house of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, has approached the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to address allegations of unfair screen allocation practices by the creators of Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty.
Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 clash intensifies
T-Series has formally petitioned the CCI, which promotes economic growth and consumer welfare through fair competition, to intervene in the screen-sharing dispute. They are advocating for a balanced 50-50% division of screens between their film, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Singham Again.
According to a source quoted by Indian Express, “PVR Pictures, which is distributing Singham Again, has assigned over 60% of showings in PVR Inox theatres to that film. Additionally, some single-screen venues have been instructed to allocate all showtimes to Singham Again, allowing Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 screenings only during the early morning slots.”
In light of this situation, T-Series has sought intervention from the CCI, demanding equal sharing of showtimes for both films. This request is particularly significant given the high stakes surrounding their respective releases. Interestingly, Ajay Devgn previously contacted the CCI in 2012. His film Son of Sardaar faced a similar predicament against Yash Chopra’s Jab Tak Hai Jaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan.
Girish Johar comments on box office outcome
The outcome of this allocation dispute will hugely impact the box-office performances of both films. And the CCI’s decision will be closely monitored by industry insiders and fans. Film producer and industry analyst Girish Johar commented, “Clashes like this are not new. We’ve seen films vying for screens during major weekends and festivals for years. Ultimately, it comes down to demand and supply. Multiplexes typically adjust their show schedules depending on audience response. So while one film may dominate initially, success is determined by content quality.”
Karan Johar on box office outcome
Karan Johar also noted an intriguing parallel in Devgn’s current situation. He stated, “It’s ironic how things have come full circle for Ajay Devgn. He once filed a complaint in a similar scenario with Son of Sardaar back in 2012.” Regarding the potential CCI intervention, Johar expressed doubts, “The last time something similar occurred in 2012, the CCI chose to let market dynamics play out. Even if the CCI intervenes, it must consider multiple factors, including the significantly higher budget of Singham Again compared to Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.”
“I doubt the CCI will take further action in this case. T-Series is a substantial player in the industry with a strong film slate and distribution network,” Johar concluded. The team behind Singham Again has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Cast of Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3
Singham Again features Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 stars Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, and Triptii Dimri. Both films are slated for release on November 1, making this a highly significant box office battle.
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