As the festive season approaches, Bollywood is gearing up for a box office showdown with two highly anticipated releases: “Singham Again” and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.” Both films have started advance bookings in select theatres, and the initial predictions are tilting in favor of Rohit Shetty’s “Singham Again,” which is projected to open with an impressive Rs 40 crore. However, the industry insiders suggest that the ultimate box office champion will be decided by the quality of the films.
A promotional still from the films has already set the stage for an exciting cinematic rivalry this Diwali. Amidst the festive spirit, not all is well in the world of big-ticket Bollywood releases. The makers of “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” have lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against the creators of “Singham Again.” They allege unfair practices concerning screen allocation, a significant factor that could influence the box office fate of these movies.
With the clash over screen time heating up, advance bookings have opened in limited locations, leaving fans eager to see which film will emerge victorious in this battle between Ajay Devgn’s action-packed ‘super cop’ drama and Kartik Aaryan’s comedic ‘ghostbuster’ caper. On Monday, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” directed by a new team following the success of its predecessor, began its advance ticket sales, recording collections of approximately Rs 12.83 lakh by Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, “Singham Again” commenced its advance booking on Tuesday morning, quickly gaining momentum with Rs 11.72 lakh by the same afternoon.
The star-studded lineup of “Singham Again” includes an array of Bollywood heavyweights: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, and Tiger Shroff. This ensemble cast is set to give the film a formidable head start over the horror-comedy of “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.” The distributor of “Singham Again,” PVR-Inox, plans to allocate roughly 60 percent of screen time to the high-octane actioner. This decision means that if a theatre houses five shows in a day, three would be dedicated to “Singham Again” and the remaining two to “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.
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This screen battle has subsequently delayed advance bookings, since moviegoers tend to favor the film that garners the most initial buzz. Anil Thadani, who is distributing “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” pushes for an equitable screen sharing scheme, which currently stands at a 55-45 ratio. Diwali is a time when audiences typically indulge more heavily in entertainment, significantly boosting the potential box office earnings.
According to trade analyst Girish Wankhede, the audience’s choice might not solely depend on initial figures. “Even with an expected R40-crore opening for ‘Singham Again’, if ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3′ turns out to be the superior film, the dynamics could swiftly change,” he notes. The festive spirit often lifts spending power, so both films are expected to make a considerable splash at the ticket counters.
However, not all parties are celebrating this cinematic tussle. Manoj Desai, Executive Director of Gaiety-Galaxy, expresses his frustration over the ongoing screen time dispute. “This is Diwali time, and we aren’t allowed to start advance bookings because they can’t sort out their differences. This is damaging to us,” Desai laments, highlighting the negative impact this delay has brought upon exhibitors.
Supporting Desai’s views, trade analyst Taran Adarsh observes that the indecision persists just days before the films’ scheduled release. Many theatres, including those in Pune, are reportedly undecided about which film will secure more screens. Despite Diwali being a lucrative season for the film industry, the unresolved issues between the parties involved could harm their box office success. “Eating each other’s business will only damage the industry,” Adarsh warns.
In conclusion, while “Singham Again” holds an early advantage in this high-stakes box office duel, potential twists remain as “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” could surprise audiences if it captivates with its charm. As the clock ticks down to Diwali, the audience awaits the outcome of this gripping contest, ready to celebrate the best of Bollywood filmmaking.
