Recently, the renowned director Rohit Shetty made a significant announcement regarding his highly anticipated action thriller, “Singham Again.” Initially scheduled for an August 15 release, the film has now been postponed and is set to hit theatres this Diwali. However, this change sets the stage for a major clash at the box office, as Anees Bazmee’s sequel, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” had already been slated for a Diwali release for an entire year.
For the first time, Anees Bazmee has addressed the looming clash in an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times. When queried about the potential competition between “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” and “Singham Again,” Bazmee expressed a mix of surprise and concern. “Abhi aapse news aayi hai. Clashes are never a good idea. We had announced our release date for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 a year in advance. I don’t know kya karein abhi,” Bazmee candidly remarked.
He elaborated on the implications of releasing two high-profile films simultaneously: “All films get affected when there is a clash, nuksaan toh hota hai. Aur baat product mein confidence ki nahi hai. Duniya ka har director, actor, writer hamesha apni film ke baare mein confidently baat karta hai.” This translates to a clear consensus within the film industry that such clashes can lead to financial losses, regardless of the inherent confidence creators have in their projects.
When asked about the possibility of altering the release date for “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” Bazmee responded, “Aisa abhi nahi socha hai since we had decided the release in advance. Ajay (Devgn) is a good friend and such date clashes are inevitable. Yeh hamare haath mein nahi hota (this is not in our hands).” His statement underscores the inevitability and the uncontrollable aspects of scheduling clashes in Bollywood, even among well-bonded professionals.
Bazmee also shared a broader perspective on the impact of release dates on a film’s success.
. “If the film is not good, then you can release it at any festival, it won’t work. A good film doesn’t need a date to work. The animal also didn’t come to a festival, that’s what I have seen over the years,” he concluded. According to Bazmee, the true determinant of any film’s success lies not in the timing of its release but in the content and quality of the movie itself.
“Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” boasts a stellar cast, featuring Kartik Aaryan, Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, Sanjay Mishra, Rajpal Yadav, and others in pivotal roles. Kartik Aaryan reprises his role as Rooh Baba, and fans are eagerly awaiting Vidya Balan’s return to the franchise. The horror-comedy’s previous installments have been significantly successful, raising high expectations for the third installment.
On the other hand, “Singham Again,” helmed by Rohit Shetty, is the fifth installment in Shetty’s highly popular cop universe. This series includes previous hits like “Singham,” “Singham Returns,” “Simmba,” and “Sooryavanshi.” The film featuring Ajay Devgn, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Jackie Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, and Akshay Kumar promises an ensemble star cast for an action-packed extravaganza. The film was initially supposed to enhance the Independence Day weekend, but unforeseen circumstances have pushed its release to coincide with Diwali celebrations.
Rohit Shetty’s cop universe has a dedicated fan base, and each release is a significant event in the cinematic calendar. Given the popularity and past box office performance of both film franchises, a clash at the box office seems inevitable to split audience attention and revenue. Fans and industry insiders are keenly watching how the situation will evolve.
In a film industry as vast and unpredictable as Bollywood, clashes such as these can sometimes lead to reshuffled dates, collaborative strategies, or even marketing pivots. With both films poised to draw large numbers of moviegoers, this Diwali promises to be an exhilarating showdown between two heavyweight filmmakers. For now, both Bazmee and Shetty will have their focus on ensuring their respective projects reach their peak potential and offer memorable cinematic experiences to their fans.
